Virtues of the Day of Arafaah

What are the Virtues of the Day of Arafaah ?
Praise be to Allaah.
1. It is the dayon which the religion was
perfected and Allaah's Favour was completed.
In Al-Saheehayn it was reported from 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah
be pleased with him) that a Jewish man said to him, "O Ameer
al-Mu'mineen, there is an aayah in your Book which you recite; if it
had come to us Jews, wewould have taken that day as an 'Eid
(festival)." 'Umar said, "Which aayah?" He said: "This day I have
perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and
have chosen for you Islam as your religion." [al-Maa'idah 5:3 –
interpretation of the meaning]. 'Umar said, "We know on which day and
in which place that was revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him). It was when he was standing in 'Arafaah on a
Friday."
2. It is a day of Eid for the people who are in that place.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Yawm
'Arafaah (the day of 'Arafaah), Yawm al-Nahr (the Day of Sacrifice)
andAyyaam al-Tashreeq (the 3 days following Yawm al-Nahr) are Eid
(festival)for us, the people of Islam. These are days of eating and
drinking." This was narrated by theauthors of al-Sunan. It was
reported that 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab said: "It – i.e., the aayah 'This
dayI have perfected…' was revealed on a Friday, theDay of 'Arafaah,
both of which – praise be to Allaah – are Eids for us."
3. It is a day by which Allaah swore an oath.
The Almighty cannot swear by anything except that which is mighty.
Yawm 'Arafaah is the "witnessed day" mentioned in the aayah
(interpretation of the meaning):
"By the witnessing day [Friday] and by the witnessed day [the Day of
'Arafaah]." [al-Burooj 85:3].
It was reported from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him)
that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
"The promised day is the Day of Resurrection, the witnessed day is the
Day of 'Arafaah, and the witnessing day is Friday." Narrated by
al-Tirmidhi and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.
It is the "odd" [i.e., odd-numbered, Witr] by which Allaah swore in
the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):
"And by the even and the odd" [al-Fajr 89:3]. Ibn 'Abbaas said: "The
even is the Day of al-Adhaa [i.e., 10th Dhoo'l-Hijjah] and the odd is
the Day of 'Arafaah [i.e., 9th Dhoo'l-Hijjah] This is also the view of
'Ikrimah and al-Dahhaak.
4. Fasting on this day is an expiation for two years.
It was reported from Abu Qutaadah (may Allaah be pleased with him)
that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) was asked about fasting on the Dayof 'Arafaah. He said, "It
expiates for the sins of the previous year and of the coming year."
Narrated by Muslim.
This (fasting) is mustahabb for those who are not on Hajj. In the case
of the one who is on Hajj, it is not Sunnah for him to fast on the Day
of 'Arafaah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) did not fast on this day in 'Arafaah. It was narratedthat he
forbade fasting on the Day of 'Arafaah in'Arafaah.
5. It is the dayon which Allaah took thecovenant
from the progeny of Adam.
It was reported that Ibn 'Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him)
said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: "Allaah took the covenant from the loins of Adam in
Na'maan, i.e.,'Arafaah. He brought forth from his loins all his
offspring and spread them before Him, then He addressed them, and
said: 'Am I not your Lord? They said, 'Yes, we testify,' let you
should say on the Day of Resurrection: 'Verily, we have been unaware
of this.' Or lest you should say: 'It was only our fathers aforetime
who took others as partners in worship along with Allaah, and we were
(merely their) descendents after them; will You then destroy us
because of the deeds of men who practised Al-Baatil (i.e.,
ploytheismand committing crimes and sins, invoking and worshipping
others besides Allaah)?' [al-A'raaf 7:172-173 – interpretation of the
meaning]." Narrated by Ahmad and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani. And
there is no greater day than this and no greater covenant than this.
6. It is the dayof forgiveness of sins, freedom
from the Fire and pride in the people who are there:
In Saheeh Muslim it was narrated from 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased
with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: "There isno day on which Allaah frees more people from the Fire
than the Day of 'Arafaah. He comes close and expresses His pride to
the angels, saying, 'What do these people want?'"
It was reported from Ibn 'Umar that the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: "Allaah expresses His pride to Hisangels
at the time of 'Ishaa' on the Day of 'Arafaah, about the people of
'Arafaah. He says, 'Look at My slaves who have come unkempt and
dusty.'" Narrated by Ahmad and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.
And Allaah knows best.
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

Resilience is Contagious

"Resilience is contagious." – Amy Estrada. Sure, life comes along now
and then and blows you off your feet. That's alright. What matters is
that you get back up.
You don't have to have the answers. You don't have to be superman or
superwoman. When the thundercloud opens up, who among us can stop the
rain? When the hurricane blows, who can stay on his feet? No one.
When the storm passes, stand up. Dust yourself off, take stock, and
move forward in the name of Allah. If the storm has disoriented you
and you don't see the way forward, look to the Quran. "And if there
should come to you guidance from Me – then whoever follows My guidance
will neither go astray [in the world] nor suffer [in the Hereafter]."
(Quran, Surat TaHa, 20:123). The Quran is a mighty book. Never
underestimate it. If you cannot speak Arabic and find the English
translations unwieldy, get one of the modern translations that are
easier to read, like those by Umm Muhammad, or Thomas Cleary.
When you get knocked down and then stand up tall, with strength,
otherssee it, and it rallies them. Your spouse sees it, your children
see it, your friends see it, and of course Allah sees it. Don't think
of it as showing off.Not at all. Think of it as brotherhood and
sisterhood, all of us helping each other, giving each other strength,
being good shepherds to our flocks.
Superman is no hero, he's impervious to bullets! Real heroes get hurt,
they get down on themselves sometimes, they're imperfect, they
struggle to pay the bills and raise their children, they struggle to
be become stronger in their faith, but they struggle! They don't give
up.
That's inspiring, and it's contagious, and maybe sometimes it will be
someone else inspiring you, and maybe sometimes it will be you,
getting up after the hurricane, showing us all how it's done.

Give Me Something Better

The Messenger of Allah (sws) said: "There is no calamity that befalls
one of the Muslims and he responds 'Inna Lillahi wa inna ilahi
raaji'oun, Allahumma ujurni fi museebati w'ukhluf li khayran minha,'
(Truly to Allah we belong & truly to Him we shall return, O Allah
reward me in this calamity & compensate me with something better than
it), but Allah will compensate him with something better than it."
(Muslim 918)
In other words, if you've lost something precious, or if disaster has
hit you, and you respond with faith in Allah, asking Him to replace
your loss with something better, then Allah will surely respond and
give you something better.
SubhanAllah! What more could we ask? Allah is theonly one who does
this. Ifyour house is destroyed, the insurance company will try to
find a way to deny your claim, and if they finally pay then theywill
pay less than it's worth.
The crucial thing is that the dua' must be said in that moment of pain
and loss, when you are really hurting. You can't respond at first by
saying, "Why did you do this to me Allah, I didn't deserve this!" then
months later when you've recovered somewhat, think you can say this
dua' and it will work for you.
The whole point is that inthose moments when lifeis most difficult and
you are totally thrown for a loop, you respond by turning to Allah.
That's the test. Those moments are the proving ground of your soul. If
you can face Allah in those moments of agony and say – I trust You,
all thingsreturn to You, I know youwill give me something better –
then indeed Allah will give you more than you can imagine.
May Allah give us the strength to remember Him and turn to Him
instinctively in times of calamity and times of joy as well.

Riding the Waves of Life

"When the seas of life arerough, grab a surfboard and ride the waves."
That's something my old friend Samayya used to say. Actually she used
to say that she was "boogie boarding on the waves of life."
So what does it really mean to ride the waves of life? Does it mean
that the problems of life are irrelevant and we can just surf over
them and have fun?
Not at all. If you know Samayya, then you know that life has never
been easy for her. She was married to an abusive man, got divorced and
raised a child on her ownwhile working multiple jobs, and yet she
always found a way to move forward. She never stopped seeking truth
and growth. She struggled to provide for her children, not only
financially but Islamically as well. Nothing was everhanded to her.
She has had to work hard for every single step forward. So when she
says she's boogie boarding on the waves of life, you can be sure that
it's not the whimsical statement of some spoiled trust fund kid.
1. Don't panic: Everyone Experiences Hardship
To me, Samayya's statement is first of all an acknowledgement that
life is hard – sometimes extremely so. Allah says,
"And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a
loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the
patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeedwe belong to
Allah , and indeed to Him we will return. Those are the ones upon whom
are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is thosewho are the
[rightly] guided." - Quran 2:155-157
The philosopher Philo of Alexandria said, "Be kind,for everyone you
meet is fighting a great battle." But we often don't see into the
depths of affliction that other people are experiencing. We pass
people on the street, or we see them in the masjid, and we don't
realize that one person has a parent dying of cancer; another is
caring for an aunt who suffers from dementia; another has a disabled
or mentally ill child; anotheris living in an abusive relationship and
cannot find a way out; another isfacing the loss of his home; another
has experienced divorce and is feeling the anguish of heartbreak and
loneliness. (These are all examples from people I know in my own
life).
We don't see these thingson the faces of strangers, and even the
people we work with often keep such things to themselves. Maybe they
don't want to burden us, or maybe they don't feel close enough to tell
us, ormaybe they don't want to be seen as complainers. So we sometimes
imagine that we are the only ones suffering.
When we know that every single person on this planet experiences pain
and loss, we will notpanic or despair when it happens to us. We will
recognize that such trials are a part of life, and we can survive and
come through the other side.
2. Trust in Allah's Plan for You
People often ask, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" The
problem is that we human beings have narrow vision. Compared to Allah,
we know nothing. A thing may seem bad, when in reality it is good for
our souls or our futures. If you can permit me a clichéd example, you
might miss an important flight and think that it's adisaster, then the
plane crashes and you realize your life was saved. In reality the
consequences will not always be so obvious. You might be engaged to
someone andso excited, then the engagement falls through and you are
heartbroken and asking, "Why did this happen?" And what you don't see
isthat maybe the person was unfaithful, or has a drug problem, or is
violent, and Allah has saved you from a life of misery.
As Allah says,
But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you
love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows,while you know
not. – Quran 2:216
So trust in Allah's plan foryou. This is why belief in Qadar (Divine
predestination) is one our pillars of imaan (faith). Because we
believe that Allah loves us, and is caring for us and guiding us, even
in times of misfortune.
3. Don't Think That You are Being Punished
In the same vein, so manypeople seem to think thathardships are a
punishment from Allah. They write to IslamicAnswers.com – another of
my websites – and they say, "Why is Allah angry with me? When will
Allah stop punishing me?"
SubhanAllah, the truth is just the opposite. Allah attaches no value
to the things of this world. That's why you see so many of the corrupt
and powerful living in material luxury. They are being given rope with
which to hang themselves. Material comforts are meaninglessto Allah.
If Allah wants good for you, He tests you. Allah causes us to suffer
in this life so that we can be purified, so we can grow and be ready
for Jannah.
Doesn't He say in the Quran:
Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and
they will not be tried? But We have certainly tried thosebefore them,
and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will
surely make evident the liars. – Quran 29:2-3
The waves of life run roughshod over everyone . If you read about the
lives of the Prophets, they all suffered in one way or another, some
to an extreme degree.
Our Noble Messenger Muhammad (pbuh) neverknew his father, then losthis
mother at a young age, then his grandfather. He had garbage dumped on
his back in Makkah, and stones thrown at him in Ta'if until his shoes
filled with blood. He lost his wife Khadijah (ra) because of the
hardship of the boycott against the Muslims. He lost his son. He
suffered .
Look at the lives of the Sahabah; many were tortured, and some were
tortured to death . Do youthink that Allah was punishing them? No, He
was martyring them! They were heroes!
4. Check Yourself
Even if your misfortune isa punishment, it's still a blessing because
it means that Allah has chosen to punish you in this dunya (earthly
life) for your sins, rather than subject you to the much worse
punishment of the aakhirah (hereafter). That is a kindness from Allah,
and He would not do it if He did not love you.
The other reason we are punished is so that we can learn and do
better. When we punish our children, it's not because we hate them,
but because we love them and we want them to learn and become better
human beings. Allah also loves us, and wants us to be purified, and to
fulfill our potential. That is a blessing from Allah.
So if you seem to be going through constant hardships, check
yourself.Be brutally honest as you assess your life. Ask yourself, "Am
I still on thestraight path, or have I wandered? Am I living my life
according to the Quran? Am I taking the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) as
my example? Am I sincere with people and myself?"
Recognize that if the misfortune you have experienced causes you to
analyze your life honestly and make positive changes, then there was a
purpose behind the pain. That toois a blessing.
5. Find Solace in the Simple Joys
We have established that no one is exempt from misfortune in this
life. The question is how to handle it. How do we deal with pain and
loss so that it does not overwhelm us? How do we continue to find
happiness in life?
To continue the waves metaphor, I was once knocked down by a largewave
when I was twelve years old. I lived in Tripoli, Libya at the time and
used to spend much of my free time at the beach. I was in water up to
my waist or so, when ahuge wave slammed into me and dragged me along
the bottom, under water, tumbling me over and over. I was panicked and
frightened and swallowed a lot of water.When I recovered, my skin was
scraped raw from the sand, and I knelton the beach, coughing up sea
water.
Other times I'd time the wave's entry and body surf on top. That was
so much fun.
Surfing atop the waves means that your troubles don't totally grind
you upand scrape your spirit raw like that wave did to me. Instead you
find solace in your relationship with Allah, and in the simple joys
of life. Sit down with your child on a cold evening and have a cup of
hot chocolate, and savor the rich taste. Pray Fajr then watch the sun
rise, and listen as the birds begin to wake and sing. Buy a camera and
take photographs of beautifulthings in nature, or anything that you
find appealing. Read the Quran, go for a hike, playfrisbee with your
friends.Devote some attention toyour hobbies, whether it be writing
poetry, knitting, running, or any other productive past time.
6. Be Grateful
Whatever blows hit you, you have been given the greatest gift and
blessingof all: Islam. It was not done because of any special merit
on your part. You are not more worthy of Islam than a poor herdsman
from Ethiopia, or a Japanese fisherman. It's only the grace of Allah.
Be grateful for your ability to see and hear, and for the food on your
table, and the roof over your head. You can't imagine living without
any of these things, but so many people do not have them! Focus on
what you have been given, rather than what you have been denied.
7. Keep a Sense of Wonder
Going back to my friend Samayya for a moment, I think one of the
reasons she has come through life's hardships so well is that she
continues to cultivate a sense of wonder. She is in awe of Allah
subhanahu wa ta'ala. She goes outside with her children to gazeat the
full moon. She can be inspired by an ayah from Quran, and moved by a
poem. Her sense of wonder keeps her spirit young, and her innocence
alive. She knows how to laugh. I won't say that she doesn't struggle
with anger, bitterness and fear, but don't we all? The trick is to not
let those negative emotions consume us. Experience them, then let them
go, and return to the sense of awe and wonder that makes us tremble
before Allah.
Read my recent poem, Fillit With Al-Fatihah , which deals with this
process of finding joy amid pain.
8. Reach Out to Others
When you are suffering, reach out in two ways. First, go to someone
you can trust and tell him or her about your problems.There is value
in sharing your pain. You may not want to burden someoneelse, but a
true friend willbe there for you, and willbe happy to listen. There is
a proverb: Happiness shared is happiness doubled; sadness shared is
sadness halved.
Second, reach out to others who are in pain and comfort them. You may
think you have nothing to offer, but you'd be surprised what a little
bit of gentleness can do. A kind word and a pat on the shoulder cando
wonders, and in the process you will experience a human moment, a
connection, that will help you with your own problems as well.
9. Accept Change
It's been said that chaos brings growth and liberty; while order
brings habit and stagnation. From the most difficult periods of your
life will come change. Continuing the waves metaphor, ocean waves keep
the beach clean by carrying away dead matter and debris; and they
bring in fresh water and food for the tide pools. At the same time the
waves leave behind beautiful sea shells and driftwood for collectors.
Think about a beach and how popular it is. Would anyone go to a beach
if ithad no ocean, or no waves? People go there to experience the
motionof the waves rushing in and out. The sea shore is a place of
constant change and renewal, andthat is its beauty.
I mentioned that I once got knocked down by a wave, and that sometimes
I would surf atop the waves. Well, other times I would dive straight
into the large waves. By diving into the center of the wave, you
negate its power and youcome out on the other side unharmed.
Diving into the wave means that you accept the hardship that has come
into your life. You approach it with sabr (patience) and
determination, trusting Allah, knowing that He will bring you through.
You embrace the lesson that it brings, for every single hardship in
life – big or small -carries a lesson.
To use an example from my own life, I went through a divorce in 2008,
then I was engagedto be married in 2009 and that relationship failed
as well. I went through a period when I was deeply depressed and
confused. I could notunderstand why Allah had led me down such a
lonely path. But I persevered. I kept my faith in Allah, and I tried
to be a good father to mydaughter. I continued working, writing, and
practicing martial arts. I also looked deeply into my own actions, and
questioned my own sincerity. I concluded thatregardless of what
mistakes other people may have made, I bore a share of responsibility
formy misfortunes. In my marriage, I was not fully present. For
various reasons, I held back someof my love. In the relationship that
followed, I was not 100% patient and trusting. I allowed my
insecurities and fears to get the best of me at times.
Coming to these realizations allows me the opportunity to do better
next time. I have pledged to hold nothing back with my future wife,
Insha'Allah, whoever that may be; to release all the immense love that
I have; and to be patient and trusting atthe times when I am mostfull
of fear. I have also become a better father, abetter writer, and a
better martial artist.
My pain was not wasted because I learned from it.I dived into the wave
andcame out the other side, confident that I am a better human being,
and that I will do better next time, Insha'Allah.
10. Ponder True Victory
There are two kinds of true victory. Neither one includes material
wealth, which is fleeting and ultimately meaningless:
"Whatever you have will end, but what Allah has islasting. And We will
surely give those who were patient their reward according to the best
of what they used todo." - Quran 16:96
The first true victory is spiritual success. That is recognizing
Allah's guidance, following it, sticking to it, and being grateful for
it. It's a victory because it helps us to live lives of meaning and
purpose, and to be peaceful and patient.

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And Allah knows best./

The Fisherman

An investment banker was at the pier of a smallcoastal village when a
small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were
several large yellow fin tuna. The investment banker complimented the
fisherman on the qualityof his fish and asked how long it took to
catch them.
The fisherman replied,"Only a little while."
The investment banker then asked, "Why didn't you stay out longer and
catch more fish?"
The fisherman said,"With this I have more than enough to support my
family's needs."
The investment banker then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of
your time?"
The fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my
children, take siesta with my wife,stroll into the village each
evening and spend time with my family, I have a full and busy life."
The investment banker scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you.
You should spend more time fishing; and with the proceeds, buy a
bigger boat: With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy
several boats. Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats.
Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly
to the processor; eventually opening your own cannery. You would
control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to
leave this small coastal fishing village and move to a big town and
eventually to the thecity where you will run your ever-expanding
enterprise."
The fisherman asked,"But, how long will this all take?"
To which the investmentbanker replied, "15 to 20years."
"But what then?" asked the fisherman.
The investment banker laughed and said that's the best part. "When the
time is right you would announce an IPO and sellyour company stock to
the public and become very rich, you would make millions."
"Millions?...Then what?"
The investment banker said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small
coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little,
play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village
in theevenings and spend timewith your family."

Prayer of a Sick Person

Imam Baihaqi has stated on the authority of Hadhrat Ali (ra) who
stated: "Once, I was present with the Prophet (peace be upon him). At
that time, I had fallen so much sick that I prayed to Allah Almighty
to grant me death if I amdestined to die so that I may get relief from
the sickness, otherwise, I may be restored to normal health from the
sickness if I have to live for sometime. I, also, prayed for being
granted patience if this sickness is a test for me from Allah
Almighty." Hearing that, the Prophet beat Ali with hisfoot and
observed: "Oh Ali! repeat what you were saying." Ali (ra) repeated his
prayer. Then the Prophet prayedto Allah Almighty: "O Allah! Heal him
from the sickness." Ali (ra) stated that he became healthy the same
day and the pain never appeared again.
Source: From the book"The Miracles of the Prophet Muhammad" by Shaikh
Ahmed Saeed Dehalvi.

Questions and Answers on Jinns

Question 1: Who are the jinn?
The jinn are among the creatures that Allah (swt)created. Allah (swt)
created angels, jinn, mankind, animals, plantsand others. Jinn have
some qualities like human beings. These qualities are intellect,
discrimination, freedom,and the power to choosebetween right and
wrong, between true and false, as well as between good and bad.
Question 2: When did Allah (swt) create the jinn?
Allah (swt) created the jinn before Adam (pbuh)was created. Both were
created in heaven and lived in paradise. One may read in Surah
Al-Hijr(The Rocky Tract) [Qur'an, 15:26-27]. However, nothing was
mentioned about the duration of time of the jinn's creation before
Adam (pbuh).
Question 3: What are jinn created from?
Jinn are created from fire of hot wind [Qur'an, 15:27]; and from
smokeless fire [Qur'an, 55:15]. They were originally made from fire
and then molded and shaped in the form and shape that Allah (swt)
wanted them to be.
Question 4: Do jinn have bodies?
Yes and no! It depends upon the information that one has. One group of
scholars believe that jinn do not have bodies of their own. They also
do not inhabit bodies of other creatures. However, they do exist
independently by themselves. Therefore, they do not know how they
exist without bodies: smoke, flame, fire or what?
The other group of scholars do believe that jinn do have bodies either
definite or subtle. If their bodies are definite then they have some
density; otherwise,if they are subtle, then they are so fine that our
weak eyes cannot see them. One may read Surah Al-A'raf (The Heights)
[Qur'an, 7:27]. Even if they are subtle they should have weightand
density similar to that of the air itself.
Question 5: Do jinn die?
Yes. Jinn do die. As long as they are creatures created by Allah
(swt), they should die. They arecreatures that marry, produce
children, eat, drink, and die like all other creatures in the
universe. One may read Qur'an Surah Al-Rahman (The Most Merciful)
[Qur'an, 55:26-28].
Question 6: Do the jinn feel envy of us?
Yes. There are two types of evil eye: human and the jinn. One has to
read regularly 'A'oozu Billahi Minash-shaitanir Rajeem. Also, by
reading Ayah Al-Kursi and Al-Mu'awwazatain, one will be protected from
the evil eyes of both the jinn and mankind.
Question 7: Are there messengers and prophets from within the community of jinn?
Yes. Allah (swt) has sent prophets and messengers to jinn from within
the jinn community. Also, Allah (swt) sent Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to
mankind, to jinn, and to other creatures. In SurahAl-An'am (The
Cattle), Allah (swt) explains that He sent messengers to men and to
jinn. See Qur'an [6:130].
Question 8: Do jinn have different religions, sects and denominations?
In Surah Al-Jinn (Ch. 72), Allah (swt) informs us that some jinn
accepted Islam, while others refused. Those who refused have deviated,
and developed for themselves different methods, different ways of
life, and different religions, sects and denominations.
Question 9: Do jinn marry and have children?
Yes. Jinn do marry and they do have children. The way they marry is
not known to us yet. We may be able to know thefuture if Allah (swt)
wants us to know.
People never knew about microbes, viruses, and the unseen micro
creatures. Now we are able to know many things about their life
cycles, their life duration, their methods of duplication or
reproduction: sexually and asexually. The mere fact that we do not
know how the jinn marry and reproduce does not negate their being
married and reproduced. The Qur'an stipulates in Surah Al-Kahf (18:50)
that they have offsprings. Similarly, the Qur'an states in Surah
Al-Rahman (55:56) that jinn and human beings never touched
(married)the ladies of paradise.
Question 10: Do jinn have animals as pets?
Yes. Jinn do have animals or beasts of their own. The Prophet (pbuh)
mentioned that every piece of dung is fodder for the beasts of the
jinn. However, we do not know what type of beasts the jinn have. The
same thing is to be said as to the varieties ofbeasts, their number,
their shape, their size, their weight and so on.
Question 11: Do jinn have homes of their own?
Yes. The jinn do have homes. They live all over the planet earth.
However, there are special places that one may find them in abundance
and on a regular basis. These are deserts, ruins, places of impurities
such as dunghills, bathrooms and graveyards. They live in houses of
human beings too. For those who enter their houses mentioning the name
of Allah (swt), the jinn cannot have a place to stay overnight in that
house. If the people of the house mention the name of Allah (swt)
before eating, then the shaitan will not be able to eat with them.
Question 12: Is it true that animals see jinn andangels?
Yes. Animals do see angels and shaitan. When a rooster sees an angel,
it starts crowing. However, when a donkey starts braying it is seeing
a jinn.

A CLOSER LOOK AT CHRISTIANITY

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Was Jesus sent to be crucified?
One of the fundamental beliefs of Christianity relates that Jesus died
and allowed for the shedding of his blood forthe sake of granting
forgiveness to people. In other words Jesus died on the cross as a
sacrifice for our sins. Let us investigate this topic from the Bible,
and find out whether Jesus was sent to be crucified and whether he was
crucifiedat all.
Willingness of Jesus Christto die for our sins
Peter and the two sons ofZebedee were with Jesus Christ before the
elders of the people and the chief priests came to takehim to be
crucified. Jesus at this point talked to Peter and the two sons
ofZebedee as in Matthew 26:38 "Then saith he untothem, My soul is
exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry yehere, and watch with
me." Then Jesus went a little further away from them and prayed to God
as in Matthew 26:39 "Andhe went a little farther, and fell on his
face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup
pass from me:nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."
It is very clear from the above verse in Matthew 26:39 that Jesus had
no intention of dying. In thisverse it is shown that Jesus was praying
strongly (Matthew mentions Jesus repeatingthis prayer three times) to
have this death removed from him. Had Jesus Christ been sent to be
crucified, he would not have hesitated to be killed at all.
God answered the prayers at Jesus Christ
After Jesus made the above mentioned prayer he was answered by God
according to Hebrews 5:7"Who in the days of his flesh, when he had
offered up prayers and supplications with strongcrying and tears unto
him that was able to savehim from death, and was heard in that he
feared." These words clearly showwhen Jesus was praying strongly to
God, God granted him his request. The words "heard in that he feared"
(Hebrews 5:7) mean that God granted him what he requested. So the
above verse showswhen Jesus asked of God to "let this cup pass
from"(Matthew 26:39) him, Godresponded to his prayer and saved him
from death or crucifixion.
Why would Jesus have to die on the cross?
According to the Christiandoctrine, Jesus died on the cross as a
sacrifice forour sins. Every human is born with sins, or all humans
will eventually sin, and therefore it was necessary that someone as
pure as Jesus would becrucified to nullify these sins. The question
is; whydoes anyone have to die for our sins when God, the all
merciful, could as easily grant us forgiveness if we asked for it? Why
does He have to make someone suffer for our sins or for someone else's
sins? Isn't that unjust of Him? According to the Bible the way to
redemption could be obtained without the need for sacrifice. The Bible
says:
Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not
bear theiniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the
iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon
him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. Ezekiel 18:21
But if the wicked will turn fromall his sins that he hath committed,
and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right,he
shall surely live, he shall not die.
Clearly the soul that sins shall die. Clearly, no one shall bear the
iniquity (sins) of others. So Jesus cannot bear the sins of others
either. If one is righteous then it shall be upon him, and if one
commits a sin then it shallbe upon him, and not on Jesus. Finally, the
way to repentance and forgiveness is by turning from all sins, doing
what is right, and keeping the commandments.
Also we see the same message given by Solomon. He says in the book of
Ecclesiastes 12:13"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments:for this is the whole duty of man."
This is the whole message, and this is the conclusion of messages. It
is that one should fear God, keep Hiscommandments, and nothing else.
Again in II Chronicles 7:14"If my people, which are called by my name,
shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from
their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive
their sin, and will heal their land" This clearly states that to seek
forgiveness from God we have to humble ourselves, pray, seek God,and
turn away from wickedness.
Finally the Bible says in I Samuel 15:22 "And Samuel said Hath the
LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying
the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and
to hearken than the fat of rams." This clearly states that obeying God
is better than sacrifice whether this sacrifice is of objects,
animals, or humans, or any other type. What God likes is for us to
heed and obey Him, and if that is what God likes then it is not of Him
to come later and change His mind and His ways. God says in the Holy
Qur'an, "Verily God isAll-Knowing, All-Wise" (9:28).
Now that we have seen this, Christians say that Jesus has changed some
of these laws. Did Jesus come to change laws? Let's look at what Jesus
says. In Matthew 5:17"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or
the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." Jesus clearly
states that he was not sent to abolish the law, the law of which had
already existed. What is mentioned above cannot be discounted. Then
Jesus continues to say, in Matthew 5:18 and 19 "Forverily I say unto
you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no
wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore
shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so,
he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever
shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom
of heaven." Jesus here asserts that not even as much as a tittle (dot)
shallpass from the law. Every thing is kept the way it was. This is
why the previous laws cannot be removed or discarded, and those who
willfully change these laws "he shall be called the least inthe
kingdom of heaven."
Is Jesus the same as God?
In John 10:30 Jesus said,"I and my Father are one"This verse,
according to Christians, shows God and Jesus Christ to be same. On the
other hand, we read in John 20:17,"Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not;
for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say
unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God and
your God." Here Jesus stated that there was a distinction between him
and God. In other words that Jesus himself had a God. Also, Matthew
27:46"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying,
Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That isto say, My God, my God, why hast
thou forsaken me?" Here Jesus Christ cried in loud voice callingfor
his God.
These are two different and opposite ways Jesus relates himself to
God. The first one, he and God are one, and the second; he refers to a
higher authority than him, which is God. Now assuming that both are
correct statements then we have a contradiction. If, for example,
Jesus Christ was God himself as in John 10:30 then it would be more
appropriate for him to say " .and to myself and your God." in John
20:17, or "Myself, Myself, why hast thou forsaken me?" in Matthew
27:46. If, on the other hand, one of them is wrong and the other is
correct then we have to discard the one we believe to be incorrect!
Since God doesnot make mistakes then we no longer believe the Bible is
the word of God (because we believe there is a contradiction of God's
words in the Bible).
A third possibility is that we have to look at how we can interpret
the words of Jesus in those verses. As far as John 20:17 and Matthew
27:46 it is very clear Jesus had aGod whom he prayed to and Whom had a
higher authority than his own. We can back this up with other verses
from the Bible that say, "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I
hear; I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own
will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." (John 5:30) Also
Jesus said,"...for my Father is greater than I" (John 14:28). If Jesus
and God were the same then he would not have said what he said in the
above verses.
Now, the only verse that can be interpreted is John 10:30. It is the
only one that does not render itself clear. The only way John 10:30
could be interpreted such that it does not contradict all the other
verses is by saying that Jesus meant he and God had something in
common.
To find out what the common grounds were, we have to look at the
context in which this verse came:
John 10:27 My sheep hearmy voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
John 10:28 And I giveunto them eternal life; and they shall never
perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:29 My
Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to
pluck them out of my Father's hand. John 10:30I and my Father are one.
As can be seen from John 10:28 and John 10:29 Jesus was telling the
Jewsthat he and God share something in common, and it was: no one can
pluck the faithful from either of their hands. Thiswas the common
factor between Jesus and God in this case, and not that Jesus was
himself God, or that they were exactly the same.
Let us go on to see what Jesus says in John 10:
John 10:31 Then the Jewstook up stones again to stone him. John 10:32
Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father;
for which of those works do ye stone me? John 10:33 The Jews answered
him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and
because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. John 10:34 Jesus
answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
John 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and
the scripture cannot be broken; John 10:36 Say ye of him, whom the
Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest;
because I said, I am the Son of God?John 10:37 If I do not the works
of my Father, believe me not. John 10:38 But if I do, though ye
believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that
the Father isin me, and I in him. John 10:39 Therefore they sought
again to take him:but he escaped out of their hand, John 10:40 And
went away again beyond Jordan ...
In John 10:31 we see thatthe Jews misunderstood what Jesus had meant
by"I and my Father are one." (John 10:30). And inJohn 10:33 they
accused him of blasphemy. Now, had Jesus been God, or had he and God
been one in a literal sense thenhe wouldn't have hesitated to clarify
the matter at that point. Jesus at that point said,"Is it not written
in your law, I said, Ye are gods?" What he was trying to say was that
if the Jews called "I and my Father are one" blasphemy then they
should call what waswritten in their law "Ye are gods" blasphemy too.
The reasoning behind this is "Ye are gods" does not mean that you, the
Jews, are Gods, it is rather an expression. It just means that you are
godly people. The same applies to "I and my Father are one." It does
not mean that Jesus is God or that he and God are the same literally.
It's just an expression. (The same goes for calling himself "the Son
of God." This statement should notbe taken literally either).
The Holy Qur'an says, " ... Nothing whatsoever (is there) like the
like of Him, and He (alone) is All-Hearing and All-Seeing" (42:11).
Nothing at all is like God, not Moses, not Jesus, not Muhammad, and
certainly nothing of His creation.
Is Jesus the Son of God?
One of the fundamental beliefs in Christianity is the literal sonship
of Jesus Christ to God. This belief comes from the verse in John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life."Also in I John 5:1"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ
is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him
also that is begotten of him." these verses clearly state that Jesus
is the only begotten, and born Son of God.
Let us look at other verses from the Bible to find out whether Jesus
was the only begotten son of God, or that there were more than one.
Alsolet us investigate whether Jesus was the only one born of God.
Finally, let us investigate whether the word begotten is to be taken
literally.
Was Jesus the only begotten son of God?
In the book of Psalms 2:7 we find "I will declare the decree: the LORD
hathsaid unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee."
David, in this verse, is saying that God had told him he was the son
of God and God has begotten him. Clearly Jesus is not the only
begotten son of God.
Of course, one could say that although Jesus was not the only begotten
son of God, he had no human father in contrast to David who had a
human father. That is true! Since Jesus had no human father it makes
the relationship betweenhim and God a closer one. The question is
whatabout Adam? Adam had neither human father nora human mother, and
according to the Bible he too was the son of God. The Bible says, "And
Jesushimself began to be about thirty years of age,being (as was
supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli" (Luke 3:23)
The Bible goes on to mention the supposed genealogy of Jesus Christ.
At the end of this genealogy the Bible comes to Adam, and it says,
"Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the
son of Adam, which was the son of God." (Luke 3:38)
So Adam is also the son ofGod. According to the assumption: "because
Jesus had no human father then he is closer toGod than David who had a
human father," we can safely conclude that Adam is better than Jesus
because he did not have a human father or mother.
The truth is Jesus and Adam do not differ in God's sight. They were a
mere creation of God. The Holy Qur'an says in clear terms, "Verily,
similitude of Jesus with God is as the similitude ofAdam; He created
him outof dust then said He unto him BE, and he became." (3:59)
Who was Jesus if not the literal son of God?
According to the Bible in Matthew 21:11 "And the multitude said, This
is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee." This was Jesus. He was a
prophet of God, He was sent like other prophets to deliver the message
of his ONE and only ONE God (glory be to Him). Also, in Luke 24:19 the
Bible says"And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him,
Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and
word before God and all the people."
Jesus was a true messenger of God Almighty. He was sent by Him to
deliver His will, The Bible says in John 5:30 "I can of mine own self
do nothing: as I hear,I judge: and my judgment is just; becauseI seek
not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me."
These are the true characteristics of a prophet. They do as they are
commanded. They are sent to deliver a message, and the only difference
between themand other humans is their utmost righteousness, "mighty
indeed and word" (Luke 24:19) They are the best of all the people of
their time. They are the only ones who could bear andact upon the
commandments of God completely and fully. They are loved by God
because of that, and theirnearness to God comes from that.
The same applies to all other prophets. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ismael,
Isaac, Jacob, Jonah, Moses, Jesus, Jonas, Muhammad and all the other
prophets shared the same qualities. The qualities of those who could
withstand all formsof tribulations in God's name. They all fully
abided by what God has commanded them. The Qur'an says, "Say: (O' Our
Apostle Muhammad!) (unto the People) 'We believe in God and what hath
been sent down to us, and what hath been sent down to Abraham and
Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Tribes, and what was given to
Moses, and Jesusand the Prophets from their Lord, we make no
difference between any of them, and we unto Him are muslims"' (3:84).
(Note that "what was given to Moses, and Jesus" is not the same as the
current Bible written by Paul, John, Luke, Matthew, and so on. Rather
they were the true books of Moses and Jesus. These are not to befound
today.)
Oneness of God
One of the main doctrines in Christianity isthe trinity. This idea
comes from I John 5:7"For there are three that bear record in heaven,
the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
This verseindicates that God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost are one. These
words are John's words and not Jesus words nor God's, but according to
the Christians John was inspired by God, and thatis the reason for
taking his words as the truth. Let us investigate the Bible to see if
God is One and only One, or that He is, or they are three in one.
* tobe contineud...


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And Allah knows best./

Ruling on eating balut (egg containing a dead chick)

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Belut is a fertilized duck or chicken egg that contains a
nearly-developed embryo. This egg is boiled and eaten in the shell.
The prevalent belief here in the Philippines is that it contains a
high level of protein and is good for the heart. It is sold in
themarkets and streets of the Philippines. What is the ruling on
eating this kind of egg?.
Praise be to Allaah.
The description of this egg on some websites is as follows:
Development of the chick usually takes 28 days, but balut is an egg
that has been incubated for only 18 days, during which they get a real
embryo with a primitive skeleton.
When the egg reaches the age of 16-20 days, it is ready to be taken to
market, where it will be boiled for thousands of customers who enjoy
this food. This depends on the size of the egg. The egg that is 18
days old is the best. The sellers wash the eggs thoroughly with
sponges, then when they are perfectly clean, they are put in a pot
andboiled. End quote.
With regard to the ruling on eating the egg with the embryo that is
not fully developed, the ruling is that it is haraam, because it comes
under the heading of eating maytah (something that has died without
being slaughtered properly). Eating maytah is definitely haraam
according to Islam.
The scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas were asked
about the ruling on eating this egg and they ruled that it is haraam.
They were asked:
When we visited the Philippines, we noticed that the people of that
country commonly eat a dish they call balut. This is a chicken egg
that is placed in an incubator until it develops the form of a small
chick with all its features. Three days before the egg is peeled, they
cook the egg in water until it is done, then they break the egg and
eat the chick that is inside it.
Please advise us of the ruling on eating this food.
They replied:
If the situation is as described, then the chickis regarded as maytah
(something that died without being properly slaughtered) and it is not
permissible to eat it, because it had taken shape inside the egg, and
the prohibition on maytah is something that is well known and well
established in Islam.


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And Allah knows best./

Ruling on feeding dried blood to chickens

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What is the ruling on chickens if they are fed dried blood? A lot of
chickenfeed that chickenfarmers buy to fatten their chickens, both in
this country and abroad,contains dried blood, because in it there is a
kind of protein that helps chickens grow.
Praise be to Allaah.
With regard to feeding chickens or other animals that may be eaten
with impure substances (najasah) such as blood and the like, if it is
a small amount, that does not matter and it does not make them haraam
or make them jallaalah (animals that feed on filth and dung); rather
the jallaalah should be detained until it becomes pure and clean,if
most of its food is impure (najis).
But if only a small amount of the animal's food is impure (najis),
then it does not have any impact and it does not make the animal
haraam, so long as the ratio is 20% or 30% and so on. This does not
matter. Rather what makes it haraam is if the ratio is more than that
- 60% or 70%. If this is the ration, then the animal is regarded as
jallaalah, so it should be detained so that it can be given good and
pure food andwater. If it has been detained for a suitable number of
days, then it becomes pure and is halaal. This applies if theimpure
material is the majority of what it eats. The time for detaining
animals varies. Chickens should be detained for three days, and that
is enough for them to be fed good food and goodwater. Other animals,
such as sheep, cattle andthe like should be detained for longer
thanthat, such as seven days or more, so that they canbe given good
food and water, and their flesh becomes good (halaal) after that. We
have asked many of those who have knowledge of this matter, and they
said that what is fed to chickens of dried blood is a small amount in
comparison to other, pure food.


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And Allah knows best./

Ruling on eating chicken that was fed hormones or ground meat

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Does the meat of chickengrown by giving steroidsis halal evenif it is
slaughtered correctly?
Praise be to Allaah.
If the manufactured food or medicines did not contain anything harmful
or impure (najis), there is nothing wrong with eating chickens to whom
they were fed, if they have been slaughtered in the proper shar'i
manner by a Muslim or a kitaabi (i.e., Jew or Christian).
But if the feed or medicine is harmful to man, and will make him sick,
for example, it is haraam to feed them to chickens and to eat those
chickens, because Allah says (interpretationof the meaning):
"and do not throw yourselves into destruction"
[al-Baqarah 2:195].
And the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:
"There should be neitherharming not reciprocating harm." Narrated by
Ibn Maajah (2431) and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa'
al-Ghaleel (896).
If the feed is naajis (impure), such as meat from animals that died
without being slaughtered properly (maytah) or blood and so on, that
may be put inthe feed, then the matter is subject to further
discussion.
Is most of the feed is made from those impuresubstances or from taahir
(pure) things suchas grains and the like?
If most of the feed is pure, it is permissible to eat it, and there is
nothing wrong with that.
But if most of its feed is naajis (impure) -- this is what the
scholars call "an animal that feeds onfilth" -- it is not permissible
to eat unless it has been detained andfed with taahir food thatwill
make its meat good.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said in al-Sharh al-Mumti' (11/298):
The animal that feeds onfilth is one whose food ismostly impure (najaasah).
There are two scholarly views concerning this: one view is that it is
haraam because it has been nourished by impure matter that has an
effect on its meat.
The other view is that it is halaal. This is based onthe idea that
impure things become pure when they undergo a transformation. They
said: The impurity that it ate has been transformed into blood, flesh
and the like that grows in the body, so it is taahir. End quote.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said:
The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) forbade the
milk of an animal that feeds on filth or impurity, but if the animal
is detained until it becomes pure, then it is halaal according to
Muslim consensus, because before that the effect of the impurity could
be seen in its milk, eggs and sweat, so it gave off a rotten and evil
stench. Once that is removed, it becomes taahir (pure). If the ruling
is established for a reason, it ceases to apply once that reason isno
longer present.

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And Allah knows best./

Ruling on eating duck and pigeon

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I am not sure if i can eat meat as a duck OR pigeon. are they Halal.
Praise be to Allaah.
The basic principle with regard to food and drinkis that it is
permissible unless there is proof thatit is haraam. Allah says
(interpretation of the meaning): "He it is Who created for you all
that ison earth" [al-Baqarah 2:29].
It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbaas said: The people of the Jaahiliyyah
used to eat some things and refrain from others because they found
them off-putting. Then Allah, may He be exalted,sent His Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), revealed His Book, and
explained what is permissible and what is forbidden. Whatever
theQur'aan has permitted is permissible and whatever it has forbidden
is forbidden, and whatever it does not mention is pardoned. Then he
recited: "Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): I find not in that
which has been revealed to me anything forbidden to be eaten byone who
wishes to eat it, unless…" [al-An'aam 6:145] until the end of the
verse.
Narrated by Abu Dawood (3306); classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani
(may Allah have mercy on him).
Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The second
type is that concerning which no prohibition was narrated; it is
permissible, but on condition that it be slaughtered properly, such as
duck and waterfowl.
End quote from Fath al-Baari.
With regard to ducks and pigeons, there is no evidence to suggest that
it is haraam to eat them, so we go back to the original principle,
whichis that they are permissible. In fact the permissibility of
eating pigeons can be seen in the fact that the Sahaabah (may Allah be
pleased with them) ruled that if a muhrim (pilgrim in ihram) hunted
the pigeons of the Haram (sanctuary), the expiation for that is a
sheep, which indicates that it is permissible to eat them (i.e.,
pigeons -- the prohibition is on hunting when in ihram and within the
boundaries of the Haram).
Ibn Qudaamah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Similar rulingswere
made by 'Umar, 'Uthmaan, Ibn 'Umar, Ibn'Abbaas and Naafi' ibn 'Abd
al-Haarith…
End quote from al-Mughni, 3/247
An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:Our companions are
unanimously agreed that it is permissible to eat ostriches, chickens…
ducks, sand grouse, sparrows, larks, francolin and pigeons…
End quote from Sharh al-Muhadhdhab, 7/22
He also said: Whatever lives in the water and onland, including
waterfowl such as ducks,geese and so in, is halaalas stated above, but
if any of these dies of natural causes (i.e., is not slaughtered in
the proper manner) it is not halaal, and there is no difference of
scholarly opinion on this point. Rather it is essential that it be
slaughtered properly.And Allah knows best.

Marriage According to Quran and Sunnah

And those who say: "Our Lord! Bestow on us
from our wives and our offspring
who will be the comfort of our eyes,
and make us leaders for the Muttaqûn" Those will be rewarded with the
highest place
(in Paradise) because of their patience.
Therein they shall be metwith greetings
and the word of peace and respect.
(Qur'an 25:74-75)
The order to Marry
Hadith - Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, No. 1,Narrated Anas bin Malik
A group of three men came to the houses of the wives of the Prophet
asking how the Prophet worshipped (Allah), and when they were informed
about that, they considered their worship insufficientand said, "Where
are we from the Prophet as his past and future sins have been
forgiven." Then oneof them said, "I will offer the prayer throughout
the night forever." The other said, "I will fast throughout the year
and will not break my fast." The third said, "I will keep away from
the women and will not marry forever." Allah's Apostle came to them
and said, "Are you the same people who said so-and-so? By Allah, I am
more submissive to Allah and more afraid of Him than you; yet I fast
and break my fast, I do sleep and I also marry women. So he who does
not follow my tradition in religion, is not from me (not one of my
followers)."
Hadith - Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 62, Number 4, Narrated 'Abdullah
We were with the Prophet while we were young and had no wealth
whatever. So Allah's Apostle said, "O young people! Whoever among you
can marry, should marry, because it helps him lower his gaze and guard
his modesty (i.e. his private parts from committing illegal sexual
intercourse etc.), and whoever is not able to marry, should fast, as
fasting diminishes his sexual power."
Saying of Salaf - Sufyan ibn 'Uyaynah
Sufyân ibn 'Uyaynah (rahimahullâh) said, "Themost nimble of creatures
still have need of a voice.The cleverest women still need to have a
husband, and the cleverest man still needs to consult wisemen."
Al-Mahr (The Dowry)
The Noble Qur'an 4:4
And give to the women (whom you marry) their Mahr (obligatory bridal
money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) with a
good heart, but if they, of their own good pleasure, remit any part of
it to you, take it, and enjoy it without fear of any harm (as Allâh
has made it lawful).
Stipulations in Marriage Contract
Hadith - Abu Dawud and AI-Hakim on the authority of Abi hurairah,Sahih
Al- Jami AI-Sayhir, (No. 6714)
Regarding contracts the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: The rights
are decided by the conditions.
Hadith - Malik's Muwatta Book 28, Number 28.6.16
Yahya related to me fromMalik that he had heard that Said ibn
al-Musayyabwas asked about a woman who made a stipulation on her
husband not to take her away from her town. Said ibn al-Musayyab said,
"He takes her away if he wishes."
Malik said, "The custom among us is that when a man marries a woman,
and he makes a condition in the marriage contract that he will not
marry after her or take a concubine, it means nothing unless there is
an oath of divorce or setting-free attached to it. Then it is obliged
and required of him."
Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in his book Al-Mughni:
"If he married her on the condition that he should not make her move
from her house or her city, then this condition is valid, because it
was reported that the Prophet said: 'The most deserving of conditions
to be fulfilled are those by means of which sexual intercourse becomes
permissible for you.' If he married her onthe condition that he
willnot marry another wife, then she has the right to leave him if he
does take another wife." In conclusion, then, the conditions of the
marriage contract are divided into three types, one of which must be
adhered to, which is of benefit to the wife, such as her being able to
stipulate that he cannot make her move from her house or city, or
travel with him, or take another wife or a concubine. He has to adhere
to these conditions, and if he does not, then she has the right to
annul the marriage." [Al-Mughni by Ibn Qudaamah, part 7, Kitaab
al-Nikaah]
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked
this question and he replied in Al-Fataawa al-Kubra:
"Question: a man marrieda woman and she stipulated that he should not
take another wife or make her move from her house, and that she
couldstay with her mother, so he married her on this basis. Does he
have to adhere to this, and if he goes against these conditions, does
his wife have the right to annul the marriage or not?
Answer: yes, these conditions and similar ones are valid according to
the madhhab of Imaam Ahmad and other scholars among the Sahaabah and
Taabi'een,such as 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab, 'Amr ibn al-'Aas, Shurayh
al-Qaadi, al-Oozaa'i and Ishaaq. According to the madhhab of Maalik,
the condition states that if hemarries another wife, (the first wife)
has the choice of what to do, andthis is a valid condition. The woman
has the right to leave him in this case. This is similar to the idea
in the Madhhab of Imaam Ahmad. The basis for this is the hadeeth
narrated by (al-Bukhaari and Muslim) in al-Saheehayn from the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): 'The most deserving of
conditions to be fulfilled are those by means of which
sexualintercourse becomes permissible for you.' 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab
said: 'Rights are in accordance with conditions.' The Prophet dictated
that the conditions which make sexual intercourse permissible are more
deserving of fulfilment than others. This is the ruling on conditions
of this nature." [al-Fataawa al-Kubra, part 3, Kitaab al-Nikaah].

In Marriage

The Noble Qur'an 30:21
And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among
yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between
you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people
who reflect.
The Noble Qur'an 4:19
O ye who believe! ye are forbidden to inherit women against their
will.Nor should ye treat them with harshness that ye may take away
part of the dower ye have given them except where they have been
guilty of open lewdness; on the contrary live with them on a footing
of kindness and equity. If ye take a dislike to them it may be that ye
dislike a thing and Allah brings about through it a great deal ofgood.
Hadith - Tirmidhi
"The most perfect of the believers is the best of you in character,
and the best of you are those among you who are best to their wives."

The Virtue of Kindness According to Quran and Sunnah

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The Noble Qur'an 3:159
And by the Mercy of Allah,you dealt with them gently. And had you
beensevere and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about
you; so pass over (their faults), and ask (Allah's) Forgiveness for
them; and consult them in the affair. Then when you have taken a
decision, put your trust in Allah, certainly, Allah loves those who
put theirtrust (in Him).
The Noble Qur'an 42:43
And verily, whosoever shows patience and forgives that would truly be
from the things recommended by Allah.
The Noble Qur'an 31:17-19
O my son! Aqim-is-Salat (offer prayers perfectly), enjoin (people) for
Al- Ma'ruf (Islamic Monotheism and all that is good), and forbid
(people) from Al- Munkar (i.e. disbelief in the Oneness of Allah,
polytheism of all kinds and all that is evil and bad), and bear with
patience whatever befalls you. Verily! These are some of the important
commandments ordered by Allah with no exemption.
And turn not your faceaway from men with pride, nor walk in
insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah likes not each arrogant
boaster.
And be moderate (or show no insolence) in your walking, and lower
your voice. Verily, the harshest of all voices is the voice (braying)
of theass.
Hadith - Muslim & Bukhari
"Allah is not kind to him who is not kind to people."
Hadith - Tirmidhi , Saheeh: Related by Aboo Daawood (no. 4177) and
at-Tirmidhee (no. 1877). It was declared authenticby Imaam al-Albaanee
in as-Saheehah (no. 417):
"He who does not thank people does not thank Allah."
Hadith - Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi
"Those who are kind andconsiderate to Allah's creatures, Allah bestows
His kindness and affection on them. Show kindness to the creatureson
the earth so that Allahmay be kind to you."
The Noble Qur'an - Al-Fath 48:29
Muhammad (SAW) is the Messenger of Allâh, and those who are with him
are severe against disbelievers, and mercifulamong themselves. ...