Owners of the Garden

The following story is mentioned in Surah Qalam, Chapter 68 of the Holy Quran.
Once there was a wealthy and pious man. He had a big garden full of
green trees laden with fruits. After the fruits were picked, this
rightful man used to distribute some fruits among the poor who would
gather at the garden every season to take their share.
Allah liked this act of the man. By the grace of Allah the garden used
to give rich harvest every season. Truly, one who spends for the sake
of Allah gets the reward in the hereafter as well as in this life.
This man had many sons who were not so pious as him. When their father
died, they discussed a plan and said to each other that their father
was not a wise man. He did not know how it was difficult to earn
livelihood. They did not like the habit of distributing some of the
fruits among the poor. They felt as if all their efforts would go to
vain if the poor had some share.
One of the sons had a concern. What will they tell the poor people
when they gather to take their fruits next time? They thought over its
implications, as they were worried about losing their prestige.
However, they were not afraid of Allah's wrath. One of them suggested
removing all the fruits inthe night and thus clearing the garden
before dawn so that nobody could come and ask for his share. Everyone
agreed to this suggestion. Since they were not even afraid of Allah,
they forgot to say 'Insha-Allah', which means if Allah Wills,"...they
swore to pluck the fruits of the (garden)in the morning, without
saying Insha-Allah ('if Allah Wills')" (Verses 17-18). If a Muslim
does not say Insha-Allah before doing something Allah may not fulfill
his wish. But those who have no faith in Allah failto remember this
and get stuck up in their act.
Allah is all Powerful. He knows no bounds in His Governance. All the
brothers went to sleep with a view to getting up early in the morning
and gather the ripe fruits. In the meantime, with the Will of
Allah"...there passed by on the (garden) a visitation (fire) from your
Lord at night and burnt it while they were asleep." (Verse 19)
In the early morning, all of them got up and hurried up and "...called
out one to another as soon as the morning broke, Saying: 'Go to your
tilth in the morning, if you would pluck the fruits.' So they
departed, conversing in secret low tones (saying), No Miskin (poorman)
shall enter upon you into it today." (Verses 21-24)
As they were proceedingtowards the garden, they were quite unaware
that Allah had willed otherwise. Because the garden had become "black
by the morning, like a pitch dark night (in complete ruins)" (Verse
20). So when they reached the garden, they said this was not their
garden, and that they had strayed away from the right path to the
garden.But when they saw therewas no other way around, they were
wonder struck! Soon they realized the situation and yelled:"Verily, we
have gone astray," "Nay! Indeed weare deprived of (the fruits)!" The
best among them said: "Did I not say to you 'Why not glorify
(Allah)'?" (Verses 26-28). He had been advising them earlier against
this act, for he had said it is only Allah who would enhance their
fruits if they continued to give away some of them in charity.
All of them felt regretful over their misdeed. Theyturned, to one
another, in reproach and said:"Glory to our Lord! Verilywe have been
doing wrong. Alas for us! We have indeed transgressed!" All of them,
then, sought Allah's pardon and said:"We hope that our Lord will give
us in exchange a better (garden) than this. Truly, we turn to our Lord
(wishing for good that He may forgive our sins, and reward us in the
Hereafter)." (Verses 31-32)
It is very beloved to Allahthat we share with the less fortunate
whatever we have. While some of us only feel hungry during the month
of Ramadan, there are many who are hungry everyday. Let us be
moregenerous with our wealth and help all those who are in need. We
will not lose anything by giving awaysome of our wealth, we will only
gain.

A Sheet for the Prophet

Narrated Abu Hazim: I heard Sahl bin Saad saying, "A woman brought a
Burda (i.e. a square piece of cloth having edging). I asked, 'Do you
know what a Burda is?' They replied in the affirmative and said, "It
is a cloth sheet with woven margins." Sahl went on, "She addressed the
Prophet and said, 'I have woven it with my hands for you to wear.' The
Prophet took it as he was in needof it, and came to us wearing it as a
waist sheet. One of us said, 'O Allah's Apostle! Give it to me to
wear.' The Prophet agreed to give it to him. The Prophet sat with the
people for awhile and then returned(home), wrapped that waist sheet
and sent it tohim. The people said to that man, 'You haven't done well
by asking him for it when you know that he never turns down anybody's
request.' The man replied, 'By Allah, I have not asked him for it
except to use it as my shroud when I die." Sahl added; "Later it (i.e.
that sheet) was his shroud."
Source: Sahih Al Bukhari (Volume 3, Hadith# 306)
The person wanted to have the sheet for his shroud because he hoped
that Allah will show mercy towards him after death as he is covered in
a sheet that was worn by the Prophet. We can also hope for the same by
dressing ourselves with the lifestyle of the Prophet (peace be upon
him) as his simple lifestyle is the most beloved to Allah.

4 hadith found in ' The Fear Prayer ' of Malik's Muwatta.

11.1.1
Yahya related to me fromMalik from Yazid ibn Ruman from Salih ibn
Khawwat from someone who had prayed (the prayer of fear) with the
Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, on the
day of Dhat ar-Riqa that one group had formed a row with him and one
group had formed a row opposite the enemy. He then prayed one raka
with the group he was with, and then remained standing while they
finished by themselves. They then left and formed a row opposite the
enemy, and then the other group came and heprayed the remaining raka
of his prayer with them, and then remainedsitting while they finished
by themselves. Then he said the taslim with them.
11.1.2
Yahya related to me fromMalik from Yahya ibn Said from al-Qasim ibn
Muhammad from Salih ibn Khawwat that Sahl ibn Abi Hathma related tohim
that the form of the prayer of fear was that the imam stood with a
group of his companions,while another group faced the enemy. The imam
prayed one raka with them, including the prostration, and then stood.
He remained standing while they completed the remainingraka by
themselves. They then said the taslim, left, and formed up opposite
the enemy while the imam remained standing. Then the otherswho had not
prayed came forward and said the takbir behind the imam and he prayed
one raka with them, including the prostration. He then said the
taslim, while they stood up and prayed the remaining raka by
themselves. Then they said the taslim.
11.1.3
Yahya related to me fromMalik from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umar,
whenasked about the fear prayer said, "The imam and a group of people
goforward and the imam prays a raka with them, while another group,
who have not yet prayed,position themselves between him and the enemy.
When those who are with him have prayed a raka they draw back to where
those whohave not prayed are, anddo not say the taslim. Then those who
have notprayed come forward and pray a raka with him. Then the imam
leaves, as he has now prayed two rakas. Everyone else in the two
groups stands and prays a raka by himself after the imam has left. In
this way each of the two groups will have prayed two rakas. If the
fear is greater than that, then the men pray standing on their feet or
mounted,either facing the qibla or otherwise." Malik said that Nafi
said, "I do not believe that Abdullah ibn Umar related it from anyone
other than the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him
peace."
11.1.4
Yahya related to me fromMalik from Yahya ibn Said that Said ibn
al-Musayyab said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and
grant him peace, did not pray dhuhr and asr on the dayof the Trench
until after the sun had set." Malik said, "The hadith of al-Qasim ibn
Muhammad from Salih ibn Khawwat is the one I like most out of what I
have heard about the fear prayer."

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And Allah Knows the Best!

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Published by :->
M NajimudeeN Bsc- INDIA

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Teaching children good manners

Just as a child should be taught ritual acts of worship, he should
also be taught good habits and etiquettes until they become second
nature to him.
The Prophet said: "The believers who have the most perfect faith are
those who have the best manners." [Abu Daawood]
Good manners are an acquired trait that must be adopted from a young
age. Of such manners arethe following:
Being respectful and dutiful to parents:
The first person from whom a child learns good manners is the father.
If a child is raised in a good Islamic home, then it would be natural
for him to treathis parents respectfully.
Allaah Says (what means): "And your Lord has decreed that you worship
none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them
or both of them reach old age in your life, never say 'uff' (an
expression of displeasure), nor shout at them but address them in
terms of honour. And humble yourself to them out of mercy and say, 'My
Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercyas they did bring me up when I was
small.'" [Quran, 17:23,24]
Maintaining good relations with relatives:
Sound cultivation also stipulates teaching children to maintain good
relations with their relatives.
Allaah Says (what means): ''Worship Allaah and associate none with Him
in worship, and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, the needy, the
neighborwho is near of kin, the neighbor who is a stranger, the
companionby your side, the wayfarer (you meet), and those (slaves)
whom your right hands possess. Verily, Allaah does not like such as
are proud and boastful. " [Quran, 4:36]
The fulfillment of this Divine command can be accomplished only by
sound cultivation which makes them grow attached to their relatives
out of obedience to Allaah.
Since relatives are an extension ofthe family, then strengthening ties
with them strengthens the whole family and it is like strengthening
the whole community and this reflects an Islamic community that enjoys
a cohesive structure. The Prophet said: "The example of the believers
in their reciprocal love and mercy is like a human body, when one of
its organs suffers, the rest of the body remains awake and suffers
fever." [Muslim]
Inculcating brotherly love:
Brotherly love and believers' solidarity must be embedded in
children's minds and that the believers are brothers-in-faith. For
example to follow the pious predecessors, the Muhajireen andthe Ansaar
whose brotherly love and altruism Allaah commands in His Book.
Giving a friendly gesture or a happy greeting to Muslim brothers
generates friendliness intheir hearts and, strengthens the love among
the believers. This indeed is a fine trait, which is instructed by
Allaah, the Exalted. He describes the believers by saying (what
means): "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, and those who are with
him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves…"
[Quran, 48:29]
Allaah also addressed His Messenger saying (what means): "Had you been
severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about you…"
[Quran, 3:159]
Guarding the tongue:
Giving a good word is a type of remembrance of Allaah, telling the
truth, guarding one's own tongue against slandering other Muslims are
good deeds. The bestMuslim, according to the Prophet is the one from
whose tongue the Muslims feel safe.
Parents should make their children aware of the gravity of abusing
others with their tongueand of the fact that the tongue is a
double-sided and dangerous weapon. Therefore, they should be warned in
particular against abusing it.
· Warning children against backbiting and slandering:
Children should be taught that backbiting is speaking slanderously
about an absent person. The Prophet said: "Doyou know what back biting
is?" They (companions) said: "Allaah and His Messenger know best." He
said: "It is to attribute to your brother what he dislikes." He was
asked: "What do you think if what I say about my brother is true?" He
said: "If what you attribute to him is true,then you have backbitten
him, and if it is not true, then you havelied about him." [Muslim]
While talebearing is to circulate slanderous rumors between two
persons to damage or sever the ties between them. The Prophet said:
"Talebearer will not be admitted to Paradise." [Muslim]
Deriding people in their presence by making negative facial
expressions or by hand gestures while they are unaware is also
forbidden in Islam.
· Warning children against lying:
Children must be taught to tell the truth and to keep away from lying,
which is the most horrible habit. The Prophet said: "There are four
traits whoever possesses them is a sheer hypocrite, and he who
possesses one of them, possesses a trait of hypocrisy unless he quits
it. They are: when he speaks, he lies; and when he enters into an
agreement, he acts unfaithfully; when he promises, he breaches his
promise; and when he litigates, he behaves treacherously. While the
liar receives the anger of Allaah on the Day of Resurrection."
[Al-Bukhaari]
Parents should not take this evil habit lightly, or consider it funny
when their children tell lies because later on, it becomes easyfor
them to lie without any compunction.
· Abusing others:
Among the worst of manners is reviling people and swearing at them. If
this bad habit is not redressed while the child is growing up, it
becomes hard for him to avoid it later on.
Islam enjoins guarding the tongues. The Prophet said: "He who
guarantees, what is in between his jaws (tongue), and what is in
between his thighs (private parts), I guarantee Paradise for him."
[Al-Bukhaari]
This means guarding one's own tongue against uttering anythingthat
displeases Allaah, and guarding one's own private partsagainst
committing illicit acts or fornication.