Sex in Islam Sex as Sadaqa

An excerpt from 'The Muslim Marriage Guide', By Ruqaiyyah Waris
Maqsood (Amana Publications).
"Women shall have rights similar to the rights upon them; according to
what is equitable and just; and men have a degree of advantage over
them."(Quran, 2:216)
They do indeed! This passage of the Holy Quran was revealed in
connection with the rights of women following a divorce, but it also
has a general sense. One basic right of every person taking on a
contract never to have sex other than with their own legitimate
partner is that each spouse should therefore provide sexual
fulfillment (imta') to the other, as part of the bargain.
Now, every man knows what sexual things please him--but some men,
particularly those who have not been married before and are therefore
lacking experience, don't seem to know much about how to give the same
pleasure to the woman; even worse, some men do know but they can't be
bothered to make the effort. Yet this is vital if a marriage is to
succeed and not just be a disappointing burden for the woman, and it
is a vital part of one's Islamic duty.
It is not acceptable for a Muslim man just to satisfy himself while
ignoring his wife's needs. Experts agree that the basic psychological
need of a man is respect, while that of a woman is love. Neither
respect nor love are things that can be forced--they have to be worked
for, and earned. The Prophet (s) stated that in one's sexual intimacy
with one's life partner there is sadaqa (worship through giving):
Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said:"In the sexual act of each of you there
is a sadaqa."The Companions replied: "O Messenger of Allah! When one
of us fulfils his sexual desire, will he be given a reward for that?"
And he said,"Do you not think that were he to act upon it unlawfully,
he would be sinning? Likewise, if he acts upon it lawfully he will be
rewarded."(Muslim)
This hadith only makes sense if the sexual act is raised above the
mere animal level.
What is the magic ingredient that turns sex into sadaqa, that makes it
a matter of reward or punishment from Allah? It is by making one's sex
life more than simple physical gratification; it is by thought for
pleasing Allah by unselfish care for one's partner. A husband that
cannot understand this will never be fully respected by his wife.
Neither spouse should ever act in a manner that would be injurious or
harmful to their conjugal life. Nikah is the sacred tie between
husband and wife, that sincere and devoted love without which they
cannot attain happiness and peace of mind.
"Of His signs is this: that He created for you spouses that you might
find rest in them, and He ordained between you love and mercy."(Quran,
30:21)
Now, every Muslim knows that a man has a right on his wife. However,
because nikah is a contract never to seek sexual satisfaction outside
the marriage bond, Islam commands not only the women but the men in
this respect, and makes it clear that if a husband is not aware of the
urges and needs of his wife, he will be committing a sin by depriving
her of her rights.
According to all four orthodox jurists, it is incumbent upon the
husband to keep his wife happy and pleased in this respect. Likewise,
it is essential for the wife to satisfy the desire of the husband.
Neither should reject the other, unless there is some lawful excuse.
Now, it is fairly easy for a woman to satisfy a man and make herself
available to him, even if she is not really in the mood. It is far
harder for a man to satisfy a woman if he is not in the mood, and this
is where an important aspect of male responsibility needs to be
brought to every Muslim man's attention, and stressed strongly.
The jurists believed that a woman's private parts needed "protecting"
(tahsin). What they meant was that it was important for a Muslim
husband to satisfy his wife's sexual needs so that she would not be
tempted to commit zina out of despair or frustration.
A Muslim wife is not merely a lump of flesh without emotions or
feelings, just there to satisfy a man's natural urges. On the
contrary, her body contains a soul no less important in God's sight
than her husband's. Her heart is very tender and delicate, and crude
or rough manners would hurt her feelings and drive away love. The
husband would be both foolish and immoral to act in any way
unpalatable to her natural temperament, and a man selfishly seeking
his own satisfaction without considering that of his wife is a selfish
boor. In fact, according to a hadith:
"Three things are counted as inadequacies in a man. Firstly, meeting
someone he would like to get to know, and taking leave of him before
learning his name and his family. Secondly, rebuffing the generosity
that another shows to him. And thirdly, going to his wife and having
intercourse with her before talking to her and gaining her intimacy,
satisfying his need from her before she has satisfied her need from
him."(Daylami)
This is another of the things implied by the saying that one's wife
is"a tilth unto you."(Quran, 2:223) The imagery is that of a farmer
taking care of his fields. According to Mawlana Abul-Ala Mawdudi:
"The farmer sows the seed in order to reap the harvest, but he does
not sow it out of season or cultivate it in a manner which will injure
or exhaust the soil. He is wise and considerate, and does not run
riot." (Afzalur Rahman, Quranic Sciences, London 1981, p.285)
Likewise, in the case of husband and wife, the husband should not just:
"Take hold of his wife and rub the seed and finish the business of
procreation. The damage in this case could sometimes be irreparable,
because a woman, unlike a farm, is very sensitive and has emotions,
feelings, and strong passions which need full satisfaction and
attention in a proper and appropriate manner." (Afzalur Rahman,
Quranic Sciences, London 1981, p. 286)
If this is not taken into consideration, and the wife is not properly
prepared to start lovemaking, or is unsatisfied when it is finished,
there could be many psychological and physiological complications
leading to frigidity and other abnormalities. Indeed, many husbands
eventually become disappointed with their wives, believing them to be
frigid or unable to respond to their activities (unlike the sirens on
the film or TV screen), and they wonder what is wrong with them. A
possible explanation will follow in a moment.
Allah created male and female from a single soul in order that man
might live with her in serenity (Quran, 7:189), and not in
unhappiness, frustration and strife. If your marriage is frankly
awful, then you must ask yourself how such a desperate and tragic
scenario could be regarded by anyone as "half the Faith." According to
a hadith:
"Not one of you should fall upon his wife like an animal; but let
there first be a messenger between you.""And what is that messenger?"
they asked, and he replied:"Kisses and words."(Daylami)
These "kisses and words" do not just include foreplay once intimacy
has commenced. To set the right mood, little signals should begin well
in advance, so that the wife has a clue as to what is coming, and is
pleasantly expectant, and also has adequate time to make herself
clean, attractive and ready. As regards intimacy itself, all men know
that they cannot achieve sexual fulfillment if they are not aroused.
They should also realise that it is actually harmful and painful for
the female organs to be used for sex without proper preparation. In
simple biological terms, the woman's private parts need a kind of
natural lubrication before the sexual act takes place. For this, Allah
has created special glands, known to modern doctors as the Bartholin
glands, which provide the necessary "oils."
It is still possible to read old-fashioned advice to husbands that a
desirable wife should be "dry"--which is remarkable ignorance and
makes one really grieve for the poor wives of such inconsiderate men.
Just as no one would dream of trying to run an engine without the
correct lubricating fluids, it is the same, through the creative will
of Allah, with the parts of the female body designed for sexual
intimacy. A husband should know how to stimulate the production of
these "oils" in his wife, or at the very least allow her to use some
artificial "oils." This lack of knowledge or consideration is where so
many marital problems frequently arise.
As Imam al-Ghazali says: "Sex should begin with gentle words and
kissing," and Imam al-Zabidi adds: "This should include not only the
cheeks and lips; and then he should caress the breasts and nipples,
and every part of her body." (Zabidi, Ithaf al-Sada al Muttaqin, V
372) Most men will not need telling this; but it should be remembered
that failure to observe this Islamic practice is to neglect or deny
the way Allah has created women.
Insulting a wife with bad marital manners
Firstly, a husband must overcome his shyness enough to actually look
at his wife, and pay attention to her. If he cannot bring himself to
follow this sunna, it is an insult to her, and extremely hurtful.
Personal intimacy is a minefield of opportunities to hurt each
other--glancing at the watch, a yawn at the wrong moment, appearing
bored, and so on. A husband's duty is to convince his wife that he
does love her--and this can only be done by word (constantly repeated
word, I might add--such is the irritating nature of women!), and by
looking and touching.
Many people believe that the expression in the eyes reveals much of
the human soul. Certainly the lover's gaze is a most endearing and
treasured thing. Many wives yearn for that gaze of love, even after
they have been married for years. If you cannot bring yourself to look
at her while paying attention to her, she can only interpret this as a
sign that you do not really love her. And even though it may be
irritating to you, and seem quite superfluous, most women are deeply
moved when a man actually tells her that he loves her.
Sex is clean!
A modest upbringing is part of good character. The Prophet (s) himself
said:"Modesty brings nothing but good."(Bukhari and Muslim) But
another, also important, part of Islamic teaching says that all of
Allah's creation is beautiful and pure, particularly when it is part
of the body of human beings, who are designed as His deputies upon the
earth. In some religions, people traditionally believed that the
woman's private parts are in some way unclean, or dirty, or even evil.

Fathwa, - Misconceptions in Islam

Question
I don't mean to sound like a disbeliever, but scholars always speak of
the reward for men in heaven how they will have "Hour al-'Een". How
can a man can keep more than one wife? What's in it for women? I
believe Allah to be a Just and Fair God. I just want to understand. If
there are any books you recommend I would be grateful. I need to learn
more because I feel that the way Islam is preached nowadays is
undeserving to God. There are so many misconceptions and preachings
that make you want to turn away from Islam. Allah is a kind God,
Tender and Gentle with His worshippers. Where is all this meanness and
bad presentations coming from?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and may His blessings and
peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and
Companions.
One has to believe that Allah, The Great and Almighty, is Just,
Generous Affectionate, Wise and All-Knowing. He does what He likes and
chooses; no one has the right to review or rebut His Orders. So, He,
in His Wisdom, has chosen that a man can marry four women, not the
opposite. Here, only those who have faith and insight can recognize
the wisdom behind such a ruling.
He has decreed that a believer can take delight in a number of al-Hour
al-'Een )dark-eyed damsels(, while a believing woman only loves her
husband and wants nobody but him.
Allah Says )interpretation of meaning(:}And with them will be chaste
females, restraining their glances )desiring none except their
husbands(, with wide and beautiful eyes.{]37:48[.
You have to know that there are no unmarried people in Paradise. A
woman who was spinster or her husband was not from the people of
Paradise will be given a husband and rewarded with Divine blessings
and bliss, that no a human being can imagine.
In addition, know that there is no similarity between affairs of this
life and those of the Hereafter.
In other words, a woman may wish to have more than one husband in this
world, but she will not have such a desire in the Hereafter, i.e. in
the Paradise, since her delight lies in having only one husband,
without wishing a substitute.
This, in fact, shows completeness of the Divine wisdom, His ability
and kindness.
Thus, a Muslim is advised to seek from this Present Life what leads
him/her to the Paradise. In simple words, he/she does not have to be
engaged with such matters )discussed in this Fatwa( that cannot be
changed.
If Allah honors him/her with entering the Paradise, he/she will see
what no eye has ever seen, hear what no ear has ever heard and what no
one can imagine.
We ask Allah to make us and you from the people of His Paradise and favor.
Allah knows best.

Fathwa, - Freedom of women in Islam

Question
Why in Islam women do not have their freedom?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and may His blessings and
peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and
Companions.
A woman was in a miserable state before Islam. She was subject to
humiliation, injustice and oppression. She was buried alive for fear
of poverty. Also, because women were used as a means for gaining money
and for prostitution, which is a source of disgrace.
By the advent of Islam Shari'a honors the woman, gives her natural
position in life and returns her freedom. In general, she is like a
man except in some rulings and regulations that befit her
physiologically.
The woman in Islam ranks high as a daughter, sister, wife and mother.
Islam grants the woman her personal and financial freedom as well as
independence to behave within the Shari'a limits and good customs that
Islam sanctions, i.e. without committing what is Haram such as
displaying her charm, misdeeds and uncovering her body. At the same
time, man has freedom, but within Shari'a limitations and good and
useful customs that Islam sanctions.
So, it is not true to say that women do not rank high in Islam.
Whoever wants Muslim women to be free from her modesty, morals, honor
and religion wants misery for her, to overburden her and to ask her to
do what she naturally cannot.
Allah knows best.

Fathwa, - Claims about woman in Islam

Question
There is a new group which has come recently to my city and claim that
they are addressing common misconceptions about Islam by Muslims
themselves.
These are a few of their teachings:
- looking at a woman in her eye while addressing her is a cultural
thing and has nothing to do with Islam.
- women are highly encouraged to work )even outside homes, i.e. offices, etc.(.
- the public is Mahram for a woman.
- women only need husband's permission to go out only if the travel or
period of absence is more than 3 days.
-the voice of a woman is not Awrah.
- males are allowed to attend and listen to Qur'an recitation
competitions involving women.
- the seating arrangements which seek to segregate man and women is a
cultural thing.
- Islam does not preach strict segregation of the sexes )they used
Hajj as an example(.
- women are allowed to give Adhan )without any specifications(.
However there would be grave consequences and that is why they don't
do so.
- Sahabah used to sit in a big room with man facing women )more of a
mixed seating but women with women and man with man, however in an
open manner(.
- if they sat together)man and woman(, every woman sat with her Mahram
in a big circle.
Please tell me if these things are right as I have had a different
upbringing )different teachings(. If they are, give me a few evidence
and if they aren't, again give me some evidences.
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and may His blessings and
peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and
Companions.
Men should not look at alien women nor should women look at alien men
as this is forbidden by the clear texts of the Qur'an and Hadith.
Allah Says )interpretation of meaning(:}Tell the believing men to
lower their gaze )from looking at forbidden things(, … And tell the
believing women to lower their gaze )from looking at forbidden
things(, …{]24: 30-31[.
The Prophet )Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam( said:"Allah has written
forAdam's son his share of Zina which he commits inevitably. The Zina
of the eyes is the sight )looking at an alien woman("]Reported by
Imamsal-BukhariandMuslim[.
The Prophet )Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam( said toAli:"OAli! Do not
follow an unintentional look )at alien women( with another look. The
first glance is for you )pardonable( whereas the other glance is not
for you )that is a sin(". Transmitted byal-Tirmiziwho considered it as
good. There are many Ahadith proving this ruling.
So, whoever claims that lowering gaze from looking at alien women is
merely a cultural matter and not a religious act should recheck his
religion, Islam.
2( Working is permissible for the woman as long as the following
conditions are met:
a( When the Muslim community needs her services such as a lady doctor,
lady teacher, etc.
b( Working in a non-mixed environment.
c( Observing the rulings of Sharia as for as the matter of Hijab is concerned.
Yet it is more suitable for her to stay in her house taking care of
her children, the future generation, which is, indeed, best for her
and for the community as well.
Allah Says )interpretation of meaning(:}And stay in your houses, and
do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance, …{]33:
33[.
3( Jurists have different opinions concerning the matter of presence
of a woman among a great number of men, is it permissible or not? The
preponderant opinion is that it is permissible provided there is no
temptation; otherwise, it is forbidden as agreed by all jurists.
However, traveling of a woman in public without being accompanied by a
Mahram is not permitted with the exception of the dire necessity. Some
jurists permitted her only to travel to perform obligatory Umrah and
Hajj with the company of trustworthy group of women.
4( Going out without having husband's permission is not permissible,
let alone traveling, which is strictly forbidden with a greater
reason.
5( Is the voice of a woman Awrah )must be covered( or not? This is a
matter of discussion among scholars. The preponderant opinion is that
it is not Awrah except if there is a chance of temptation.
6( There is no harm if a man attends the Qur'an recitation competition
of women provided the women are in complete Hijab fulfilling the
rulings of Sharia and provided he is certain to not to be tempted on
hearing their recitation.
However, it is better that only women attend in such competition in
order to block the ways that could lead to evil.
7( Islam urges that there be separate places for men and women at
gatherings since mixing of both sexes leads to many evil and shameful
acts. There are many evidence proving this fact.
Allah Says )interpretation of meaning(:}And stay in your houses, …{]33: 33[.
The Prophet )Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam( said:"The best rows for men
are the first rows, and the worst one are the last ones, and the best
rows for women are the last ones and the worst ones for them are the
first ones".
This is because the first row of women is closer to the men's ranks
and the last rank is farther from them.
The Prophet )Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam( used to order men to delay
leaving of mosque till the women left. This rule was only to prevent
them from mixing with women. If it is undesirable for men and women to
be close at the time of worshipping Allah, remembering Him, how much
more so in a place full of doubts and temptations. The Prophet
)Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam( said toUmm Salamah:"Perform the Tawaf
while riding from behind the people"]Reported by Imamal-Bukhari[.
Hafiz Ibn Hajarhighlighted the reason and said:'The Prophet
)Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam( ordered her to make Tawaf from behind
the people since it would provide more cover for her from being seen
by men'.
In short, we mentioned but a few evidences here; otherwise, the
evidence is too much to be covered in this Fatwa.
8( Taking Hajj as an example for the permissibility of mixing men and
women is totally baseless. Is it correct to say that wine is
permissible since some Muslims drink it? It is not sound to take the
example of Hajj to allow the mixing of both sexes since a mistake can
never be an excuse for another mistake.
9( Women can call for Azan but without raising their voice.
Imanal-Shafi'esaid:'Calling Azan and Iqama is permitted for women but
it is better not to raise their voice'. The reason is that her voice
may cause seduction to others.
10( As for their claim that the companions of the Prophet )Sallallahu
Alaihi wa Sallam( used to sit in a big room facing women … we ask them
to produce the evidence for this claim. This claim is full of
ambiguity and is beyond the reality.
No doubt, some companions of the Prophet )Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam(
used to visit other companions and sometimes some of them visit some
women for some legal purpose but it was totally free from being alone
with them, unveiled and free from any kind of suspicion, which is
common now.
In short, their claims consist of true and false. It is apparent that
they are keen to encourage men to mix with the opposite sex and
socializing with alien women. Indeed, this practice will open many
doors to seduction. Therefore, it is better for men to avoid being
seen by women and it is better too for women to be far from the eyes
of men as reported from Ayisha )Radiya Allahu Anha(.
We ask Allah to make us steadfast on right path.
Allah knows best.

Fathwa, - Certain women's rights and responsibilities in Islam

Question
1(Why in Islam girls cannot go out alone , but here in Europe is it
possible to go out alone ?
2(What is the problem when girl has a boyfriend, before they get married?
3(What are the problems bad effects of freedom of Europe on and
American women )Like sex,bad clothes, etc.(
4( Men in Islam can have many wives, why can't women have many husbands?
Please I want full answers .
5(How can I invite non-Muslim people to be Muslims?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and
peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and
Companions.
It is unlawful for the woman to travel alone without a Mahram )a
non-marriageable man )brother, father, uncle etc.(. This prohibition
is due to the fact that a woman traveling without Mahram can encounter
a lot of difficulties, including being raped or tempted to commit
Haram acts.
It is lawful for the woman to leave her house for some need provided
she is certain that she will not be tempted or her going out will not
cause her some misfortune.
So, she can go alone to schools, hospitals or to any other place if
there is a legal purpose for going there and provided she respects all
the Shari'a conditions related to this.
For the Fatwa about boyfriends and fiancé, please read 81356.
There are many bad consequences that result from libertinism of women.
These include sexual anarchy, mixing up progenity, spreading sexually
transmitted diseases, etc.
We do not call this freedom, it is rather worshipping Satan and being
inclined to his whispers. It also makes real the bad ideas of the
ill-informed people who take every opportunity to influence women by
beautifying to them to perform bad acts and calling that freedom.
Allah knows best.

Stories of Prophets, - Prophet Aziz (PBUH)

The lineage genealogy of the Prophet 'Aziz (peace be upon him) linked
with that of Harun bin 'Umran. The name of his father was Khalqiyah.
The Holy Quran has made mention of him in theSurah Tawbah (Immunity).
The Jews regarded him as the son of Allah as the Christians thought
'Esa (peace be upon him) as His son. The Holy Quran affirms:
"The Jews say: 'Aziz is the son of Allah and the Christians say: The
Messiah is the son of Allah. Such they say in their mouth! These
resemble the sayings of the infidels of old. Allah do battle with
them. How are they misguided?" ( Surah 9: Verse 29)
He was the son of Sharahya, the Scribe. He was in his teens when
Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem and put it to rout. When he attained
the age offorty yearsthecrown of Prophet hoodwas conferred upon his
head. He began to perform the duty of showing the path of
righteousness to the depraved humanity. He was held in high esteem
among his followers. When the Israelites planned to reconstruct
theBait-ul-Muqaddis, he exercised his influence to gain co-operation
of the Government officials. He assisted the Jews to carry out their
plan.
Al-Baizawi says: During the Babylonish captivity theTorahwas lost and
there was none who remembered it. Allah raised up Aziz (peace be upon
him) from the dead one century after his burial. He dictated to the
scribes from his memory the whole Jewish law (Torah). He would have
been fully worthy of having been the law-giver ifMusa(peace be upon
him) had not preceded him. History bears testimony to this fact that
the Prophet 'Aziz (peace be upon him) guided the Israelites during the
period which lasted from the destruction of Jerusalem to the
reconstruction of Bait-ul-Muqadis.
It has been narrated that a person rode upon an ass and passed near a
city calledJerusalem. He possessed a basket of figs and a vessel of
the juice of grapes. He wondered at the power of Allah and said: How
will Allah re-build and populate it again?
Aziz (peace be upon him) was much shocked at the sight of dilapidated
dwellings. When he was under the sway of utter disappointment, Allah
caused him todie for a hundred years. Then He raised him to life and
said: "How long have you tarried here?"
He replied: I have tarried for a day or a part of it. He slept in the
first part of the day and was deprived of his life. He was reanimated
at sunset.
Allah, the Exalted said: "You have tarried a hundred years. Look at
your food and drink. They are as fresh as you have left them. They
have remained unchanged even after the passage of century. Look at the
ass. It has been decomposed and reduced to skeleton of bones. I have
wrought this miracle to make manifest to you that I have the power to
immune or destroy anything." The Holy Qurannarrates this miracle in
the following Verses:
"And how He demeaned him who passed by a city which had been laid in
ruins. He said: How shall Allah give life to this city after it had
been destroyed. And Allah caused him to die for a hundred years and
then raised him to life. He said: How long have you waited? He said: I
have waited a day or part of a day. Allah said: look on your food and
your drink; they are not corrupted. Look on your ass, We would make
you a sign for men and look on the bones of your ass, how We will
raise them, then clothe them with flesh and when this was shown to
him, he said: I acknowledge that Allah has power to do all things." (
Surah 2: Verse 259)
Allah commanded the Prophet 'Aziz (peace be upon him) to go to
Jerusalem torender services to the cause of religion. He passed away
atSa'irabad near 'Iraq. He was buried there. Some historians say that
his grave is inDamascus.

Stories of Prophets, - Prophet Ayub (PBUH)

The Prophet Ayub(peace be upon him) was one of the descendants of
theProphet Ibrahim(peace be upon him) and a nephew ofProphet
Ya'qub(peace be upon him). He was sent to reform the people who lived
in the desert situated in the north eastern corner ofPalestine. When
Ayub (Job) was chosen to be the Prophet, he started to teach the
people about God and His religion. He advised the people to do good
and shun evil. As usual with all the Prophets very few people believed
in him in the beginning but gradually the number of his followers
began to increase.
The Prophet Ayub was Well Off
The Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him) was a prosperous man with firm
faith in Allah. He possessed vast farms, enormous wealth, many cattle
and valuable property but these things did not make him arrogant. His
wealth provided him with a medium by means of which he sought Allah's
grace.
The Prophet Ayub Displays Patience
The Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him) was a pattern of humility and
faith in Allah. He was verypatient. He suffered from a number of
calamities but did not utter a single word of complaint. One day his
big farm was attacked by the thieves. They killed many of his servants
and carried away forcibly all his cattle. The Prophet Ayub (peace be
upon him) did not feel sorry at this loss and thanked Allah.
After some time the roof of the housefell down and many members of his
family were crushed. The Prophet Ayyub (peace be upon him) was much
shocked but he held fast to his faith in Allah. He neither shed a tear
nor heaved a sigh. He prostrated before the Almighty. He remarked that
possessions and children were the gifts from Allah. If He had taken
His things, it was useless to lament over their loss.
After a few years Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him) suffered fromskin
disease. His parts of body were covered with loathsome sores. He had
many ugly looking ulcers on his face and hands. The sores were full of
worms. It is narrated that he picked up those worms which fell from
his abscess and praised Allah for creating them.
Above all, hisfalse friendsattributed his calamities to his sins. They
ridiculed and looked down upon him. All the persons deserted him with
the exception of his faithful wife,Rahima. She also grew tired of him
in the long run and prayed for his death. She cursed her husband for
retaining integrity in Allah. When Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him)
was in an extremely pathetic condition he prayed:
"Truly adversity has afflicted me and You are Most Merciful of all who
show mercy." ( Surah 21: Verse 83)
Allah accepted his prayer. The Holy Quran affirms:
"Then We heard his prayer and removed that adversity from which he
suffered, and We gave him his household and the like thereof along
with them, a mercy from Our store and remembrance for the
worshippers." ( Surah 21: Verse 84)
The Prophet Ayub Recovers and Prospers
Allah turned to him with mercy. He was commanded to strike the earth
with his foot. He complied with the order andwater from the
springgushed forth. He took a bath with the water andgot curedfrom his
evil disease. After this he was restored to prosperity. The Prophet
Ayub (peace be upon him) knelt and prayed expressing a deep sense of
gratitude to Allah. He never forgot His favours, mercy and love.
The Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him) was one of the celebrated
Prophets. His example illustrates: that those whoremain patient under
the stressof all circumstances, are never deprived of high rewards.
The Holy Quran affirms:
"And surely we try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of
wealth and crops, but give glad-tidings to the steadfast, who when a
misfortune befalls them, say lo! we are Allah's (possession of Allah)
and to Him shall we surely return. · Such are they on whom are
blessings from their Lord, and mercy. Such are the rightly-guided." (
Surah 2 : Verse 155-157)

Stories of Prophets, - Prophet Adam (PBUH)

Adamis an Arabic word for man. He was the progenitor of human race. He
is reckoned to be the first prophet by the Muslims. He was also the
first man whom Almighty Allah had created from the elements of clay.
The Holy Quranaffirms:
"O' mankind! Surely We created you from dust." ( Surah 30: Verse 20)
The gradual process of man's physical development has been referred to
in the following Verses of the Holy Quran:
"He began the creation of man from dust. Then He made his progeny of
an extract of water held in light esteem. Then He made him complete
and breathed into him of His spirit and made for you ears and eyes and
heart." ( Surah 32: 7-9)
According to the latest scientific researches the man has been created
from clay with all its element and their inherent properties. It is
discovered by a chemical analysis of the human body that a defect
occurs in its normal functioning when the quantity of any of these
element gets diminished. In such case vitamins are used to supplement
the deficiency and restore normal health.
The Creation of Prophet Adam
Before the creation of mortal, Almighty Allah directed all the Angels
to assemble. Thousands upon thousands of Angels (created from light)
and Jinns (created from fire) gathered in groups. They bowed
respectfully in the presence of Almighty Allah. The Creator of the
universe declared that He intended to create the man and sought their
counsel. The Angels and Iblis (Satan) disapproved the idea and pointed
out that human beings would cause disorder on the earth. They would
make mischief and shed blood indiscriminately. The Holy Quran gives a
description of this event in the following Verses:
"And when your Lord said to the angels: I am about to appoint a
vicegerent in the earth. They said: Will you place therein such as
will cause disorder in it or shed blood ? We celebrate your praise and
extol your holy names. He answered: I know what you know not." ( Surah
2: Verse 30)
Angels were asked to make Obeisance to Adam
Allah taught Adam the names of all things and inculcated into his mind
the knowledge of their properties. The Holy Quran says:
"And He taught Adam the names of all things; then presenting them to
the angels, He said: Tell Me the names of these if you are right." (
Surah 2: Verse 31)
The Angels did not know their names and said:
"Glory be to You. We have no knowledge except what You have taught us.
Surely, You are Knowing, the Wise." ( Surah 2: Verse 32)
After that Allah questioned Adam in the presence of all Angels about
the names of different objects. He gave correct answers on the basis
of this superiority. Allah asked all the Angels to bow as a mark of
respect to Adam who was created so miraculously. The Holy
Quranaffirms:
"O' angels! Fall down making obeisance to Adam" ( Surah 15: Verse 29)
Angels Prostrated but Iblis Refused
When the Angels heard the Commandment of Almighty Allah, they all
complied without hesitation. They bowed with respect and admiration to
the new creation and that was Adam. However Iblis (Satan) did not
surrender on various pretexts and stood still. The Holy Quran says:
"And when We said to the angels: Make obeisance to Adam, they did
obeisance, not so Iblis, he refused and was haughty and he was of the:
rejecters." ( Surah 2: Verse 34)
Challenge of Iblis
Iblis disobeyed Allah and became defiant. He arrogantly refused to
accept the authority of a creature who was made of rubbish. Iblis
thought himself superior to human being. As a result, God expelled
Satan from the Garden of Bliss and deprived him of all Divine favors.
Satan requested Almighty Allah to allow him to exist until the Day of
Judgment. I would bring most of the descendants of Adam under my sway.
I would lead them astray from the Right Path. Allah gave him respite.
The conversation between God and Iblis has been narrated in the Holy
Quranas follows:
"Iblis said: Give me respite till the Resurrection Day. Allah said: Be
you among those who are given respite. He said: Because You have
thrown me out of the way, I will certainly lie in wait for them on
Your Straight Path. Then will assault them from before them and behind
them, from their right and from their left, nor will You find most of
them grateful." ( Surah 7: 14-18)
Devil is, in fact, an evil spirit which temps the man to indulge in
sins. It invites the heart to do bad deeds and disobey Allah. It tries
to weaken our sense of morality but if we are spiritually too strong
to yield to its temptations, we become immune from all sins. Those who
follow the Commandments of Allah, invite God's grace to protect them.
On the other hand those who deliberately follow the wrong way, are
responsible because they put themselves into the hands of Evil Spirit.
Hawa Created
In order to remove the lonesomeness of Adam, a female mate namedHawa
(Eve)was created. The Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) and his wife
Hawa were given a place in the Garden (of Bliss) to reside. The Holy
Quran affirms:
"And O' Adam! Dwell you and your wife in the Garden (of Bliss) and eat
there from wherever you will but approach not this tree lest you
should be: among the wrong-doers." ( Surah 7: Verse 20)
Trial of Prophet Adam
The Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) and his wife Eve continued
enjoying each others company and carefully avoiding that
specificprohibited tree. Iblis became very jealous when he saw the
favors of the Almighty Allah on the Prophet Adam (peace be upon him)
and he began to devise ways and means to humiliate them. He kept on
making evil suggestions to the couple in a sneaky way. He tried to
persuade them to approach the prohibited tree. One day the Iblis
sympathetically said to them:
"Your Lord has only forbidden you this tree lest you should become
angels or immortals, and he swore to them saying: Surely, I am a
sincere counselor unto you. So he beguiled them by deceit." ( Surah 7:
Verse 22)
On hearing this both Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) and Eve became
curious. They started wondering as to why God did not want them to
approach the specific tree. This temptation gradually became stronger
but Allah guided them alright and warned that not to be taken in by
the evil suggestions of Iblis. The Holy Quran says:
"Then We said: O' Adam! Verily, this Iblis is an enemy to you and your
wife, so let him not get you both out of the Garden so that you are
landed in misery." ( Surah 7: Verse 117)
The Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) and his wife used to live happily
in the Garden of Bliss. They were endowed with the knowledge to
discriminate between good and evil. They were also warned of the power
of evil. They overpowered all sorts of evil temptations at first and
tried hard to ward off the influence of Satan. But he made numerous
attempts to misguide them off and on. Finally Satan succeeded in his
mission and made them approach that specific tree. Instantly evil
consequences appeared. The Holy Quran says:
"When they both tasted of the tree, their private parts became
manifest to each other and they both began to cover themselves with
the leaves of the trees (in the garden), and their Lord called them
saying: Did I not forbid you both from that tree and tell you that
Satan was your avowed enemy. They said: Our Lord! We have wronged
ourselves. If you forgive us not and bestow not upon us Your mercy, we
shall surely be of the losers." ( Surah 7: Verse 23-24)
The Prophet Adam and Hawa Feel Penitence
The Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) and Eve followed the temptations
of Iblis and were deprived of the heavenly bliss. They were, however,
overflowed with grief. They requested Almighty Allah to forgive them.
Allah, the Most Merciful accepted their repentance and chose them for
His mercy. At the same time He dispelled them from the Garden of
Bliss. They became ordinary people. They had to live like us for only
a certain span of life on this earth. They would be recreated again to
be judged for their actions on the Day of Judgment.
Allah gives Directions
They lived for many years. Allah sent directions and guidance to the
Prophet Adam (peace be upon him). He taught others about the religion
of Allah. He advised his followers to do good and avoid evils. He told
the people to act upon the Commandments of Allah and follow his
guidance. It would serve the purpose of shield to do away with the
attacks of the devil. Allah says:
"Whoso shall follow My Guidance, on them shall come no fear, nor shall
they grieve. But those who will disbelieve and treat Our Signs as
lies, they shall be the inmates of the fire and they shall abide
therein." ( Surah 2: Verse 39)

Women site, - Social evils that are destroying Muslim communities - I

The role of the individual in Islam is not limited to fulfilling the
five pillars. The Muslim in an Islamic community has a greater
responsibility than is usually understood. All of a Muslim's
activities in life are included as acts of worship depending upon the
intention underlying them. Nothing is required from a Muslim beyond
service to Allaah The Almighty, and nothing is accepted from him,
which is not a service. Every individual's responsibilities fall into
two parts: his responsibility to adhere to the teachings of Islam and
his responsibility to enjoin good and forbid evil – which is social
reform. There is a reason why enjoining good and forbidding wrong
comes first, even before faith. It emphasizes the Muslim's duty and
implies faith can only be realized by certain actions, which maintains
a relationship between the individual and society.
Neglecting these duties leads to widespread corruption and an increase
in evils that consume the core of the community, such as the
following:
Indifference:Muslims are commanded to play a positive role in their
community and assist in enjoining matters of virtue and preventing
evil by as much as they can. Many Muslims stray away from the right
path because they do not find anyone to assist them and rescue them
from straying in their communities, as those around them act
indifferently. One should not underestimate any input he can give in
such cases and consider the story of the imprisonment of Imaam Ahmad,
may Allaah have mercy upon him, to see how effective a person can be
if he takes the initiative and does not act indifferently. When Imaam
Ahmad, may Allaah have mercy upon him, was imprisoned, a thief was
with him in the same cell. The thief said to him, "O Ahmad! I
persevere and tolerate the punishment I receive while I am upon
falsehood and being punished for a sin. Would someone like you, who is
suffering as a result of being upon the truth, not persevere and
endure?" Thus, this thief played an important role in comforting and
consoling Imaam Ahmad, may Allaah have mercy upon him, in a difficult
situation.
Underestimating the harms of intermixing and neglecting to lower the
gaze:If members of a particular community give free rein to their
sight, do not adhere to the Hijaab )Islamic attire for women( and
women wear perfume before leaving their homes, the most obvious
outcome is the spread of immorality in the community. Immoral films,
TV programs, obscene content on the internet and intermixing between
the two sexes are other causes that have led to people committing sins
and indulging in immorality. People nowadays mix with the opposite sex
in universities, schools and workplaces, while Yoonus bin 'Ubayd, may
Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "Never be in seclusion with a woman,
even if you wish to teach her the Quran, and even if only you would be
the one reciting."
Being ill-mannered:Many people possess three very evil qualities,
namely: lying, cowardice and miserliness, and these are the worst
three qualities a person can possess. There are also many other evil
qualities that we must be mindful of and hold ourselves to account
regarding, such as backbiting, badmouthing others and tale-bearing,
while replacing them with praiseworthy qualities and morals.
The Salaf )righteous predecessors(, may Allaah have mercy upon them,
would rebuke themselves for every word they uttered, words which would
be considered very normal to people nowadays. Maalik bin Dhayghan, may
Allaah have mercy upon him, said,
"Rabaah bin Qays once came asking for my father after the 'Asr prayer,
but he happened to be sleeping, so we informed him of this, to which
he remarked: `Who would sleep at this time of the day?` Then he left.
We sent a man after him to see if he wanted us to wake my father up
for him, but this man did not return until it was time to pray
Maghrib. When we asked him why he returned so late, he said: `I
followed him to ask him, but found that he was headed to the graveyard
while rebuking himself, saying: `What business is it of yours to ask
this kind of question? Why do you ask what does not concern you? What
is it to you when people go to sleep? People are free to sleep any
time they desire, why did you indulge in what does not concern
you?...`'"
Note how lightly such a question would be taken in our time, and how
strongly he rebuked himself for asking it.

Women site, - Social evils that are destroying Muslim communities - II

Severing ties with kinfolk: The most important of kinfolk are one's
parents, and yet we find many people dealing with them in an
inappropriate manner or even severing ties with them altogether. As
for those who do try to fulfil the needs of their parents, many of
them do it begrudgingly, while expressing discontent or complaining
that it is a burden upon them. This is in spite of the fact that
Allaah The Almighty commands us to not say even the least expression
of discontent in this regard, saying )what means(:}"…Say not to them
]so much as[ 'Uff,' and do not repel them but speak to them a noble
word."{]Quran, 17': 23[
The mother of Huthayl bin Hafsah, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said,
"He would collect wood during the summer and peel off the outer layer
of bark himself. Then, when winter would come, he would come to me
whilst I was praying, light a brazier )in my room( and place the
peeled wood in it, as this does not give harmful smoke. He would do so
just so that I would be warm during prayer. He would do so even though
we had a servant who could do the job. Whenever I thought of stopping
him and commanding him to return to his family, I would remember why
he was doing it, and thus I would allow him to continue."
Why was he doing this himself despite him having a servant who could
have done it for him? It was nothing but a reflection of his full
dutifulness towards his mother.
This type of nobility is not limited to ones parents; rather, one
should be kind to all his relatives and even his fellow Muslims.
Wasting time: The issue of wasting time is a very important one
indeed. We must be careful about it and hold ourselves to account
regarding it because we spend much of our time uselessly instead of
spending it in acts of obedience to Allaah, as it should be utilised.
Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}"And it is He who has made the
night and the day in succession for whoever desires to remember or
desires gratitude."{]Quran, 25: 62[
Therefore, time was created so that we would fill it with acts of
obedience to Allaah, The Almighty but many people do the exact
opposite of this. The Salaf )righteous predecessors(, may Allaah have
mercy upon them, were very keen to make use of every second of their
time. Al-Hasan, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said, "I have met some
people who were stingier with their time than they were with their
wealth."
People nowadays waste their times in games, late nights, socializing,
watching television and in vain talk. They may even go as far as doing
so at the expense of their religious obligations, such as their daily
prayers, and so on.
Wasting wealth:Many men cave in under pressure from their wives and
children and therefore spend extravagantly, but when they are asked to
spend in charity, one would find that they are so stingy that if they
were to pull out two bills to give in charity, one would invariably
return to his pocket. However, if this same person were to go to a
restaurant, he would have no problem in spending multiples of this
amount.
Allaah The Almighty will ask us about our wealth because we were
informed as such by the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. Abu
Barzah, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported, "The Messenger of
Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said:"Man's feet will not move on
the Day of Resurrection before he is asked about his life and how he
consumed it, his knowledge and what did he do with it, his wealth and
how he earned it and how he disposed of it, and about his body and how
he wore it out.""]At-Tirmithi[
This does not imply that people do not spend generously or that there
are no people who do any of the abovementioned matters correctly. The
purpose of highlighting these points is to serve as a reminder for
Muslims – at both the individual and community level – so that we
realize the importance of these matters and hold ourselves to account
with respect to them, as there are many of us who are failing to do
so.

Women site, - Quran is the source of glory and happiness for the Ummah - I

Praise be to Allaah Who Revealed His Noble Book in the best style and
Impressed hearts with its good wording and eloquent compositions. He
Revealed it in the form of clear verses, Segmented it into Surahs and
verses, Arranged it in the best way with His Extensive Wisdom and
Composed it in the greatest way with the most eloquent words and
sublime structure. Blessings and peace be upon the Prophet,
sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, to whom the Quran was revealed to warn
and remind. Allaah Revealed the Quran to his noble heart and this
alleviated his hardship and expanded his breast. Also, blessings and
peace be on the Prophet's, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, family and
Companions from among the Muhaajiroon and the Ansaar.
Despite technical advancement, the prosperity of industries and
inventions and the new world order, the world today is failing with
all its organizations, institutions and innovations to bring happiness
to humankind or provide it with security and comfort. Here are the
ratios of the disease of the age; anxiety and depression, increasing
day after day. Here are also the ratios of poverty, ignorance, hunger,
killing, suicide as well as the collapse of values, principles and
morals multiplying year after year.
Villa Spaza, a Spanish scientist, said, "All the amazing discoveries
of the West are neither able to prevent even one tear nor to make even
one human smile..."
Alexis Carrel said, "Modern civilization does not suit us …. Although
it was established through our contributions, it does not suit us. We
are indeed unhappy people because we have morally and mentally
deteriorated."
The same applies to some of those who are called Muslims. They have
their wealth, positions and dreams, though they live in worries,
anxiety and pain. What is the solution? What is the refuge? It is the
Quran!
The Quran is the source of glory and happiness for the Ummah, the
basis of knowledge, action and tranquility, and the spring of
steadfastness at the time of conflicting ideas and changing concepts.
It is the fortified dam in facing temptations, allegations and
desires.
At such a time, all of us need the Quran to strengthen our faith and
certainty so that we keep steadfast before such desires and
challenges.
Each Muslim needs the Quran to reassure him when he feels alienated,
soothe him when he is afflicted with a disaster, create hope in him
when he is distressed or suffers from despair of the Mercy of Allaah
and warn and frighten him when he is overcome with fancies and lusts.
O Muslims, nation of the Quran, there is neither steadfastness, nor
affection for the self, nor relief for the soul, nor fulfillment of a
promise nor security from a punishment nor firmness of belief nor
continuity of one's good mention unless one moves with all his
feelings, sentiments, heart and body to the Book of Allaah, the Noble
Quran through recitation, reflection, learning and acting accordingly.
This key actually opens the locks of the heart. The Quran is the key
of the hearts. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Then do they not
reflect upon the Quran, or are there locks upon ]their[ hearts?{]Quran
47: 24[
O Muslim, you should read the Quran with your heart first before your
tongue to find:
Purity of meanings which quench your thirst from the water of
eloquence, gentleness where you smell the breeze of the garden as well
as words when they are strict, they are like waves of the overflowing
seas and when they are lenient, they are the breaths of the life to
come.
The Quran is the source of lighting the heart as well as life and
remedy for souls. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}O mankind,
there has to come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for
what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers. Say,
"In the Bounty of Allaah and in His Mercy - in that let them rejoice;
it is better than what they accumulate."{
]Quran 10: 57-58[
The Quran achieves happiness for the human, spreads security and
tranquility and provides glory, prosperity and safety. All this is
achieved through the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam, who said:"I have left among you two things you will
never go astray as long as you hold fast to them: the Book of Allaah
and my Sunnah."]Al-Albaani: Hasan[
Brothers and sisters, we do not need to clarify a fact which is known
to friends and confirmed by enemies. We do not need to clarify this
fact which the believers believed in and the opponents admitted. We do
not need to assert that the Noble Quran is a sublime summit and a high
peak in eloquence and fluency. The masters of eloquence failed to
bring anything like the Quran. We do not need to repeat this whenever
we talk about our Quran. It is enough for us in terms of glory and
honor that the Quran is the Words of Allaah.
We hear many of those who try to prove the strength of eloquence and
effectiveness in the Quran for the enemies. Had we been truthful with
ourselves, we would have wondered: What is the effect of the Quran on
our souls? What is the effect of its eloquence on our hearts? Is this
not poof against us that we are away from the Quran and therefore we
are weak? Where are we from the Quran; the light of our hearts, the
constitution of our lives, the Favor of Allaah and His greatest Bounty
over us?
We are often in dire need of those who remind us, admonish us, soften
our hearts and help us to stay always on the straight path, with
neither exaggeration nor negligence.
There are moderate souls which accept, are disciplined and even become
happy and demand this reminder. Contrary to this, there is another
type of Muslim who is far away from the Islamic etiquettes and morals.
They are even away from dedicating worship to Allaah and doing what
befits the Majesty of Allaah of love, exaltation, submission and
surrender. Such people need strong alerts and admonishments which put
an end to their heedlessness and take them out of their deviation.
There are no stronger alerts than the alerts of the Noble Quran which
greatly influenced the Arabs, not only due to its inimitable style but
also due to its alerts, prohibitions as well as the way of narrating
stories in all its Surahs.
Have such people heard the verse in which Allaah The Almighty Says
)what means(:}O you who have believed, do not take your fathers or
your brothers as allies if they have preferred disbelief over belief.
And whoever does so among you - then it is those who are the
wrongdoers.{]Quran 9: 23[
Have such people read in the Quran the verse in which Allaah The
Almighty Says )what means(:}Say, ]O Muhammad[, "If your fathers, your
sons, your brothers, your wives, your relatives, wealth which you have
obtained, commerce wherein you fear decline, and dwellings with which
you are pleased are more beloved to you than Allaah and His Messenger
and Jihaad in His Cause, then wait until Allaah Executes His command.
And Allaah Does not Guide the defiantly disobedient people."{]Quran 9:
24[
When one of the leaders of the Quraysh heard the Messenger of Allaah,
sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, reciting the verse in which Allaah The
Almighty Says )what means(:}But if they turn away, then say, "I have
warned you of a thunderbolt like the thunderbolt ]that struck[ 'Aad
and Thamood.{]Quran 41: 13[, he begged him to stop the recitation.
The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, strictly warned against
returning to the morals of the pre-Islamic era saying:"The example of
the one who helps his people with falsehood is like a camel that fell
into a well and it moves its tail but can not get out."]Al-Albaani:
Saheeh[
He also said:"I am seizing your waistbands and trying to pull you away
from the Fire but you are trying to get away from me."]Muslim[
Why are those who are enslaved by traditions and vain pretensions and
their words and deeds have become so far from Islam, not frankly told
that their status is due to weakness of faith and keeping away from
reflecting on the verses of the Quran? Actually, the Quranic stories
and examples as well as the sayings of the Prophet, sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam, have a wonderful effect on reforming and deterring
the soul and putting it on the straight path. O people of the Quran,
when will we realize that civilization and advancement do not
contradict adherence to religion? When will we realize that the Quran
is a light and guidance for the Muslims?
It is really astonishing! Why do we quickly respond to the enemies
when they dictate that advancement can not be attained unless one
abandons Islam? Could we not be civilized while we are praying and
fasting? Could we not be civilized while we are straight and
righteous?
I wonder in astonishment; is the condition of civilization and
advancement to disobey Allaah and contradict His commands? If it is
so, then this is the real backwardness. This is actually backwardness
to the ages of ignorance, Shirk, darkness and worshipping desires and
the idols of fancy! Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Indeed,
this Quran guides to that which is most suitable and gives good
tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a
great reward.{]Quran 17: 9[
Is this the effect of ignorance about the Quran? Or is it shame to
follow the truth of Islam? Or it is the effect of desires and lusts
and surrender? O people of the Quran, the Quran calls to progress in
all fields; all worldly and religiously matters. Nevertheless, it is
the type of progress which is controlled by the noble Quranic
etiquettes and divine teachings. Non-Muslim scientists and wise people
wondered about the Noble Quran which preceded them to reflection and
advancement by hundreds of years. This is happening at a time when
many Muslims have deserted the Quran.
To be continued...

Women site, - Quran is the source of glory and happiness for the Ummah - II

Desertion of the Quran and its types:
First: Desertion of hearing, believing and listening to the Quran. You
find some Muslims today listening to all radio stations and becoming
addicted to songs and vain talk. Nevertheless, when one suddenly hears
the Quran, he turns off the radio. We seek refuge in Allaah from loss.
Second: Desertion of referring judgment to the Quran in all rulings of
religion )major or minor(. Some people refer judgment in disputes and
quarrels to man-made laws or tribal traditions and customs.
Third: Desertion of reflection, understanding and knowing what is
meant by Allaah. There are many who recite the Quran while the Quran
curses them.
Fourth: Desertion of seeking remedy and recovery from all diseases in
the Quran. A person may resort to all means of recovery except the
Quran, out of negligence and desertion.
Fifth: Desertion of applying it and not paying attention to what has
been described as lawful or unlawful by the Quran, even if the person
recites it and believes in it.
Dear readers, with the great Quran we have been taken from darkness to
light and with deserting it, we are taken back to darkness.
With the Quran, we were the best nation brought to mankind and by
deserting it, we return to the life of humility and disgrace.
With the Quran the Ummah reached the peak of virtues and glory and by
deserting it, it falls into the abyss of vices and rejection.
There is no wonder, for the earth had indeed witnessed a great birth
by the revelation of the Quran to Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa
sallam. The Quran showered the earth with its light and revived it.
The Quran was revealed to the Arabs. Although they were eloquent, they
felt weak before the great perfection of the Quran. They, therefore,
surrendered to its eloquence, their hearts were attached to it and
their souls were attracted to the inimitability of the Quran.
Where is the effect of the Quran on the souls of the contemporary
people? Some Muslims make a barrier between themselves and the Quran
and, therefore, they no longer listen to it. Even, they made a barrier
between them and all types of goodness. They are like those who put
their fingers in their ears in order not to hear the truth. One thinks
that when he hears, he will not be excused and he will no longer enjoy
his lusts and desires. Such a poor person does not know that perhaps
he hears even one verse or Hadeeth and this will be the reason for him
to gain freedom. Such a person has a captured heart and the capture of
hearts is a greater matter than the capture of the physical body.
There are many who are captives of desires and lusts, and therefore
they do not taste the sweetness of faith or the pleasure of reading
the Quran.
Perhaps listening to goodness saves you and grants your soul eternal
happiness. Hence, you have to open your heart. Allaah Has Given you
ears to hear; so, do not block them. He Has also Given you a mind to
think; so, do not make it heedless by following fancy. Here is the
example of At-Tufayl ibn 'Aamir Ad-Dawsi, May Allaah Be Pleased with
him, who came to Makkah at the beginning of Islam. The people of the
Quraysh warned him against meeting the Messenger of Allaah,
sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. They said to him: "Muhammad separated
our community and disunited us. His words are like magic. So, you
should avoid him lest he should afflict you as well as your people in
the same way as he did with us." At-Tufayl, May Allaah Be Pleased with
him, said: "They continued warning me until I decided neither to hear
anything from him nor to talk to him. Finally, I decided to put cotton
in my ears in order not to hear him. In the morning, I went to the
Ka'bah and there was the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa
sallam, standing for prayer. I stood near him and Allaah Made me hear
some of what he was saying. I heard good words and therefore I blamed
myself and said: "I am a seasoned man and poet and I can distinguish
between good and evil. By Allaah, I will hear from him. If he is
right, I will accept from him; otherwise, I will avoid him." Then he
removed the cotton from his ears and heard the best words from him. He
then said: "I have never heard better or fairer words." The words of
the Quran, therefore, were the reason behind his happiness in the two
worlds when he opened his hearing and mind before them. They greatly
influenced his soul and warm whispers penetrated deeply within his
mind and heart bearing the guidance of the Quran. Allaah The Almighty
Says )what means(:}]This is[ a blessed Book which We Have Revealed to
you, ]O Muhammad[, that they might reflect upon its verses and that
those of understanding would be reminded.{]Quran 38: 29[
Here is also the example of another man who was a tyrant during the
pre-Islamic era and harsh with the weak Muslims at that time. He heard
the verses in which Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Ta, Ha. We
Have not Sent down to you the Quran that you be distressed………Indeed, I
Am Allaah. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish
prayer for My remembrance.{]Quran 20: 1-14[
These verses broke the barriers of Shirk in his heart and melted the
rocks of ignorance. Therefore, he said: "It does not befit The One Who
Says that to worship others beside Him." That man became when he
walked in a road, the devil would walk in another road. He is
Al-Faarooq, 'Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, May Allaah Be Pleased with him, the
second Caliph for Muslims. Allaah The Almighty Exalted the religion of
Islam with 'Umar, May Allaah Be Pleased with him.
The Quran introduced a distinguished generation from the Companions,
May Allaah Be Pleased with them, throughout the history of Islam, even
throughout the history of all humanity. This was not only because the
Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, was among them, as
some may think. Had it been only for that, the message of Islam as
well as the Islamic call would have ended with the death of the
Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. Rather, there was
another reason that the Companions, May Allaah Be Pleased with them,
drunk from the spring of the Quran, adjusted themselves with it and
absorbed it, although there were different cultures at that time.
Another reason which urged the Companions, May Allaah Be Pleased with
them, to reach such an extent of virtuousness and nobility is that
they used to read the Quran in order to implement it within themselves
as well as within the communities in which they lived. They were like
soldiers who receive orders in the battlefield.
O nation of the Quran, know that the Quran does not grant its
treasures except for those who come to it with that spirit, the spirit
of response and implementation. When the verse of prohibiting wine was
revealed, a man walked in the streets of Al-Madeenah to announce that
wine has been forbidden. What happened thereafter? Each one who had a
cup of wine in his hand threw it away.
Even, each one who had the cup of wine on his lips spilled it out.
Those who had jars of wine spilled them, in response and obedience to
the Command of Allaah.
We ask Allaah to Make us obedient to Him and quickly respond to Him.
We also ask Him to Grant us understanding of the Quran, contemplating
it and acting accordingly!

Dought & clear, - Imam and congregation offering du‘aa’ together following Jumu‘ah prayer.

We pray the two fard rak'ahs of Jumu'ah, then after that the imam
turns around and we all offer du'aa' together. Is what we do correct?
Praise be to Allah.
What the believers should do is follow the example of the Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) with regard to what he did
and did not do. He should do what the Messenger (blessings and peace
of Allah be upon him) did and refrain from that from which the
Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) refrained. Allah,
may He be exalted, said (interpretation of the meaning):
"Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad SAW) you have a good
example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and
the Last Day ..."
[al-Ahzaab 33:21].
Du'aa' by the imam after an obligatory prayer – Jumu'ah or otherwise –
with the congregation saying Ameen is something that was not done by
the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) or by any of
his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). If it was good, they
would have done it before us.
Based on that, this action comes under the heading of reprehensible
innovation. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)
said: "Whoever among you lives after I am gone will see great
disputes; you must adhere to my Sunnah and the way of the Rightly
Guided Caliphs. Hold on to it and cling fast to it. And beware of
newly-invented matters, for every newly-invented matter is an
innovation and every innovation is a going astray."
Narrated by Abu Dawood, 4607; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani inSaheeh
Abi Dawood.
And the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:
"Whoever introduces something into this matter of ours that is not
part of it will have it rejected."
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2697; Muslim, 1718.
Ash-Shaatibi (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned congregational
du'aa' after the obligatory prayer in his bookal-I'tisaam(1/349-355),
and explained that this is an innovation, because that was not done by
the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) or by any of
his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) or any of the imams
(leading scholars) after them.
What you must do is refrain from this innovation and strive to recite
the adhkaar and du'aa's that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah
be upon him) used to say after the prayer. And whoever wants to offer
du'aa' may do so quietly.
And Allah knows best.

Dought & clear, - What should be said when the imam sits down between the two khutbahs at Jumu’ah prayer?.

What should be said when the imam sits down between the two khutbahs
at Jumu'ah prayer?.
Praise be to Allaah.
It is proven that the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) used to deliver two khutbahs on Friday and he separated them by
sitting down briefly on the minbar.
It was narrated that 'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with
him) said: The Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used
to give two khutbahs and sit down between them. Narrated by
al-Bukhaari (928).
It is not narrated that the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) or the Sahaabah, as far as we know, said any specific du'aa'
or dhikr between the two khutbahs of Jumu'ah. Rather some of the
scholars said that it is mustahabb to say du'aa' between the two
khutbahs, seeking the time when du'aa' is answered on Friday. One of
the strongest opinions about that time is that it is from when the
imam first comes out to give the khutbah until the end of the prayer.
This has been discussed in the answer to question no. 112165.
But because this du'aa' was not narrated from the Prophet(peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) or the noble Sahaabah, we should not
affirm it or take it as a binding Sunnah; it is also not permissible
to raise one's voice when saying it and disturb the others who are
present. Some scholars have warned against that.
Ibn Hajar al-Haytami narrated that al-Qaadi said: Du'aa' during this
sitting (between the two khutbahs) will be answered. Then Ibn Hajar
said:
It may be understood from what al-Qaadi said that the Sunnah is for
the people present to make use of the time when the imam sits to say
du'aa', because it is affirmed that it is answered at that time. If
they say du'aa' then it is better for it to be silent, because by
saying it out loud they may disturb others, and because saying it
silently is better in the case of du'aa', unless it is for a reason.
End quote.
Al-Fataawa al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kubraby al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar al-Haytami (1/251-252).
Shaykh 'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Abd al-Rahmaan Abu Bateen (may Allaah have
mercy on him) said: Du'aa' whilst sitting between the two khutbahs – I
do not know anything about it, and the one who does that seeking the
time mentioned on Friday (when du'aa' may be answered) should not be
objected to. End quote.
Rasaa'il wa Fataawa al-Shaykh 'Abd-Allaah Abu Bateen(p. 163)
Shaykh Muhammad Rasheed Rida (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
As for raising the hands and the voice in du'aa' when the khateeb sits
down between the two khutabhs, we do not know of any Sunnah to support
that; there would be nothing wrong with it were it not for the fact
that it disturbs others and because they regarded it as a Sunnah to be
followed without any evidence.
What is narrated is to ask for silence when the imam ascends the
minbar, but the silence is for the purpose of listening. Hence we say
that there is nothing wrong with saying du'aa' at times other than
when listening is required, but one should say du'aa' quietly and not
disturb others with one's du'aa'. Not all the people should raise
their hands so that this becomes one of the rituals of Jumu'ah for
which there is no teaching in the Sunnah. Rather they are going
against the clear Sunnah, if when the imam stands up and begins the
second khutbah they continue with their du'aa's. It is better for them
to listen and ponder at the time of the khutbah, and think and reflect
at the time when the imam is resting. The least that can be said about
this action of theirs is that it is an inappropriate innovation. End
quote.
Majallat al-Manaar(6/792).
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked whether
there is a specific du'aa' or dhikr that the worshipper may say
between the two Jumu'ah khutbahs? Is it narrated that the khateeb
should say du'aa' between the two khutbahs or not?
He replied:
There is no specific dhikr or du'aa', rather a person may say whatever
supplication he wants, because this is a time when du'aa's are
answered. The Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
"On Friday there is a time when no Muslim slave asks Allaah for
something when he is standing and praying but He will give it to him."
InSaheeh Muslimit is narrated from the hadeeth of Abu Moosa: "It is
between the time when the imam comes out – i.e., enters the mosque –
until the prayer ends."
This is a time when du'aa's are answered, so one should make the most
of this opportunity and say du'aa' between the two khutbahs, asking
for whatever he wants of the good things of this world and the
Hereafter.
The same may also be said of the imam; he should say du'aa' between
the two khutbahs but it should be silent, asking for whatever he wants
of things in this world and in the Hereafter.
The same may also be said concerning prostration during Jumu'ah
prayer, after reciting the adhkaar that were narrated from the
Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), one may say du'aa'
as one wishes.
And after the tashahhud and before the salaam, one may say du'aa' for
whatever one wants, after saying du'aa' for that which it is narrated
one should say du'aa' for. End quote.
He also said (may Allaah have mercy on him):
Du'aa' during this time is good and is mustahabb, because this time is
a time when it is hoped prayers will be answered. The Prophet(peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us that on Friday there is a
time when no Muslim slave asks Allaah for something when he is
standing and praying but He will answer him.
The time of prayer is the most likely to be the time when du'aa's are
answered, because of the report narrated by Muslim from Abu Moosa
al-Ash'ari (may Allaah be pleased with him), according to which the
Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "It is
between the time when the imam comes out until the prayer ends."
Based on this, one should make the most of this opportunity and say
du'aa' between the two khutbahs.
With regard to raising the hands, I do not think there is anything
wrong with it, because the basic principle with regard to du'aa' is
that its etiquette includes raising the hands. So if a person raises
his hands there is nothing wrong with it, and if he says du'aa'
without raising his hands there is nothing wrong with it. This has to
do with du'aa' between the two khutbahs. End quote.
Fataawa Noor 'ala al-Darb (Fataawa al-Salaah/Salaat al-Jumu'ah)
Thirdly:
Some fuqaha' said that it is mustahabb to recite Qur'aan when the imam
sits down between the two khutbahs, and some of them mentioned Soorat
al-Ikhlaas in particular, based on the hadeeth of Jaabir ibn Samurah
(may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: The Prophet(peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to give two khutbahs, sitting in
between them. He would recite Qur'aan and remind the people. Narrated
by Muslim (862). A similar version was narrated by Ibn Hibbaan in
hisSaheeh(7/42), which he included in a chapter entitled "Mention of
what the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to
say when he sat down between the two khutbahs." End quote.
Al-Khateeb al-Sharbeeni (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
His sitting between the two khutbahs was about the length of Soorat al-Ikhlaas.
Should he recite Qur'aan or dhikr therein, or remain silent?
They did not discuss it, but inSaheeh Ibn Hibbaanit says that the
Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to recite
Qur'aan therein. End quote.
Mughni al-Muhtaaj(1/557).
The correct view is that the words of Jaabir ibn Samurah in the
hadeeth, "he would recite Qur'aan and remind the people" do not refer
to the sitting between the two khutbahs, rather they refer to what is
mentioned at the beginning of the hadeeth, "The Prophet(peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to give two khutbahs", i.e.,
he(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would deliver two
khutbahs on the minbar, which both included recitation of Qur'aan and
exhortation and reminders to the people.
Hence al-Haafiz al-Dhahabi said inSiyar A'laam al-Nubala'(16/102), in
his biography of Ibn Hibbaan, in an important discussion of mistakes
made by Ibn Hibbaan in hisSaheeh: One of the things which al-Dhahabi
regarded as a mistake on his part was his categorizing of this
hadeeth, when he – Ibn Hibbaan – said: Mention of what [the
Prophet](peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to recite
when he sat down between the two khutbahs. And he did not mention
anything. End quote. Meaning that the hadeeth does not indicate what
he mentioned in the chapter heading.
The more correct view –and Allaah knows best – is that there is no
binding Sunnah from the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) concerning this matter. The one who wants to use this brief
moment of silence to say du'aa' or dhikr or recite Qur'aan may do so,
so long as he does not disturb others.
And Allaah knows best.

Dought & clear, - Friday khutbah in languages other than Arabic.

Could you kindly detail what should be done by the congregation for
Juma prayers? Basically, we listen to a speech in our language then
Adhan, then four sunna salaat. After this the Imam devlivers the
khutba in Arabic. During his khutbha how should we sit? Then there is
a pause in the khutbha, what should be recited here?.
Praise be to Allaah.
The fuqaha' are unanimously agreed that it is better for the khutbah
to be in Arabic, but they differed as to whether that is essential.
There are three points of view:
1-
That it is essential for it to be in Arabic for the one who is able to
do that, even if the listeners do not know Arabic.
This is the view of the Maalikis and it is the well-known view of the Hanbalis.
See:al-Fawaakih al-Diwaani(1/306) andKashshaaf al-Qinaa'(2/34).
2-
That it is essential for it to be in Arabic for the one who is able to
do that, unless none of the listeners know Arabic, in which case he
should give the khutbah in their language.
This is the correct view according to the Shaafa'is, and it is the
view of some of the Hanbalis.
See:al-Majmoo'by al-Nawawi (4/522).
3-
It is mustahabb for the khutbah to be in Arabic but it is not
essential, and the khateeb may deliver the khutbah in his own language
instead of Arabic. This is the view of Abu Haneefah and some of the
Shaafa'is.
See:Radd al-Muhtaar(1/543) andal-Mawsoo'ah al-Fiqhiyyah(19/180).
This third view is the correct one, and it is the view favoured by a
number of our contemporary scholars, because there is no clear
evidence to say that the khutbah must be in Arabic, and because the
purpose of the khutbah is to exhort, benefit and teach, which can only
be done by using the language of the people present.
It says in a statement of the Fiqh Council of the Muslim World League:
The fairest opinion is that using Arabic when giving the khutbah on
Friday and at Eid in countries where it is not spoken is not a
condition of it being valid, but it is better to say the preliminaries
of the khutbah and any Qur'aanic verses quoted in Arabic, so as to get
non-Arabs used to hearing Arabic and the Qur'aan, which will make it
easier to learn it and read the Qur'aan in the language in which it
was revealed. Then the khateeb can follow that with exhortation in
their language which they understand. End quote.
Qiraaraat al-Majma' al-Fiqhi(p. 99) (fifth session, fifth statement).
The scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas said:
There is no proof in the hadeeth to suggest that the Prophet(peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) stipulated that the Friday khutbah
should be in Arabic, rather he delivered the khutbah in Arabic because
it was his language and the language of his people. So the one who
addressed them and guided them and reminded them spoke in their
language that they understood. But he sent letters in Arabic to the
kings and rulers of nations, and he knew that they spoke languages
other than Arabic, and he knew that they would have them translated
into their languages so that they would know what was in them.
Based on this, it is permissible for the khateeb to deliver the
khutbah in a language where the people or the vast majority of its
inhabitants do not know Arabic to deliver the khutbah in Arabic then
translate it into the local language, so that they will understand
what he is advising and reminding them of, and they will benefit from
his khutbah.
He may also deliver the khutbah in the language of his country, even
if it is not Arabic, and thus he will accomplish the guidance,
teaching, exhortation and reminder that are the purpose of the
khutbah.
But it is better to deliver the khutbah in Arabic and then translate
it to the listeners, so as to combine the guidance of the
Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in his khutbahs and
his letters with achieving the aim of giving the khutbah, and so as to
avoid an area concerning which there is scholarly dispute. End quote.
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah(8/253).
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
Perhaps it is better, and Allaah knows best, to discuss this matter in
detail and say:
If the majority of people in the mosque are non-Arabic speakers who do
not understand Arabic, then there is nothing wrong with giving the
khutbah in a language other than Arabic, or delivering it in Arabic
then translating it.
But if most of the people present know Arabic and understand it in
general, then it is better to stick to Arabic and not go against the
guidance of the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him),
especially since the salaf used to deliver khutbahs in mosques where
there were non-Arabs present, and it is not narrated that they used to
translate it, because Islam was prevalent and so was Arabic.
As for the evidence that it is permissible in cases of necessity;
there is some evidence to that effect in sharee'ah. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"And We sent not a Messenger except with the language of his people,
in order that he might make (the Message) clear for them"
[Ibraaheem 14:4]
For example, when the Sahaabah invaded non-Arab lands such as Persia
and Byzantium, they did not fight them until they called them to Islam
via interpreters. End quote.
Majmoo' Fataawa Ibn Baaz(12/372).
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
The correct view with regard to this matter is that it is permissible
for the khateeb to deliver the khutbah in a language that the people
present understand, if the people present are not Arabs and do not
know Arabic. He may deliver the khutbah in their language, because
that is the means of explaining to them, and the purpose of the
khutbah is to explain the sacred limits of Allaah to His slaves, and
exhort them, and guide them. But the verses of Qur'aan should be
recited in Arabic, then explained in the language of the people.
The fact that he may give the khutbah in the language of the people is
indicated by the verse in which Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"And We sent not a Messenger except with the language of his people,
in order that he might make (the Message) clear for them"
[Ibraaheem 14:4].
Allaah stated that the means of conveying should be in the language
that the people addressed understand. Based on that, he may give the
khutbah in a language other than Arabic, but if he recites verses of
Qur'aan, they must be in Arabic, in which the Qur'aan was revealed,
then after that he may explain them to these people in their language.
End quote.
Fataawa Noor 'ala al-Darb.
See the answer to question no. 984.
Secondly:
The format of Jumu'ah prayer should not be changed to what is
mentioned in the question, whereby there are two khutbahs, one before
the adhaan in the people's language and another after the adhaan in
Arabic. Rather there should a khutbah either in the language of the
people or in Arabic then translated into the other language
straightaway whilst the khateeb is still on the minbar.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked
about translating the Friday khutbah into some other languages, after
Jumu'ah prayer in al-Masjid al-Haraam, so that those who do not know
Arabic could benefit from it. He replied:
We do not agree with what has been mentioned, and there is no
justification for delivering another khutbah on Friday before or after
the prayer.
If the aim is to translate the khutbah to those who do not understand
Arabic, then the khutbah etc can be translated via the radio at times
other than Jumu'ah prayer. End quote.
Majmoo' Fataawa al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem(3/20).
We encourage all Muslims to learn Arabic, because it is the language
of the Qur'aan and through it they can understand Islam better, and
understand the meanings of the ahaadeeth of the Prophet(peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him).
Shaykh Rasheed Rida (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
We have stated more than once that knowledge of Arabic is obligatory
upon every Muslim, because understanding the religion, establishing
its rituals and fulfilling its obligations all depend on understanding
this language, and cannot be valid without it. Although the Friday
khutbah does not absolutely have to be in Arabic, this ritual is of
great importance.
The non-Arabs who entered Islam in the early period hastened to learn
Arabic in order to understand the Qur'aan and Sunnah and to form bonds
through the language without which the unity of the ummah cannot be
achieved. The Sahaabah used to address the people in Arabic in every
land that they conquered, and it was not long before the language of
the lands that they entered became Arabic, due to the influence of the
spirit of Islam, not for worldly gains or by force of compulsion. If
they had thought that it was acceptable to leave the non-Arab nations
who entered their religion with their own languages, they would have
hastened to learn the languages of those nations and established the
religious obligations and acts of worship for them in those languages,
and Greek would have remained Greek, Persian would have remained
Persian, and so on.
The difference in languages that we see today among Muslims is one of
the most serious bad effects of politics. If the Ottoman and Iranian
states do not try to spread Arabic in their realms, there will come a
day when they will regret that. We cannot rely on any religious reform
in India or elsewhere in the Muslim world, unless Arabic is taught
from the primary stage and is made the language of knowledge. End
quote.
Majallat al-Manaar(6/496).
Fourthly:
With regard to praying four Sunnah rak'ahs before Jumu'ah, there is no
Sunnah prayer before Jumu'ah. Rather it is prescribed to offer
voluntary prayers in general before it, without specifying any
particular number.
And Allaah knows best.

Meaning of True Love in Islam: Holy Prophet Muhammad's (SAW) love for his people

It is so common that the meaning of love has been restricted in the
modern age to the love relationship between a man and a woman. This is
a very narrow-minded view of love. Islam has is own comprehensive view
of love.
The fist type of love that Islam calls for is the Love of Allah (SWT),
praise be to Him. This love makes you avoid committing sins in order
not to make whom you love, Allah, get angry with you. This love also
urges you to contemplate all the different aspect of nature that
usually leads you to have a deeper faith in the Creator who created
all this beauty round us.
The second type of love is the love of Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw).
This love also makes you follow the example of Holy Prophet Muhammad
(saw)in all his dealings and manners. Also this love is an indication
of the love of Allah (SWT) as stated in the Noble Qur'an, "Say: 'If
you do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your
sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.'" Say: "Obey Allah
and His Messenger: But if they turn back, Allah loves not those who
reject Faith." (Noble Qur'an, 3:31-32)
The third type of love is human love. It means that the Muslim has to
love his other fellow men regardless of their ethnic, linguistic or
cultural background. This includes love of neighbors, colleagues,
relatives and even strangers. This type of love persuades the Muslim
to help anybody whenever he can. There are numerous of Ahadith that
exhort Muslims to help anybody who really needs help because such an
altruistic act takes the Muslim one step closer to Allah (SWT).
The fourth type of love is the love between a man and a woman, but
Islam organizes and regulates these lofty feelings within the
framework of marriage because Islam views that marital love leads the
couple to have a peaceful and happy family life, which is the core of
the Muslim society.
In other words, this love is acceptable as long as it is within the
framework of marriage and this is encouraged in a number of verses in
the Noble Qur'an, "And one of His signs is that He created mates for
you from yourselves that you may find rest in them, and He put between
you love and compassion; most surely there are signs in this for a
people who reflect." (Noble Qur'an, 30:21)
Holy Prophet Muhammad's (saw) love for his people: Something to think about ...
How can a father's love for his son be known? This love itself is not
something visible or tactual. It can be known only from his behavior,
attitude and words towards his son. If a wise and fair person pays due
attention to Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) utterances and studies the
reports describing his efforts to guide men to the right course, his
strictness in protecting everybody's rights and his magnanimous and
compassionate efforts for the establishment of beautiful morals, he
will clearly see that his love for his Ummah (community) is much more
than that of a father for his son. A person who realizes his
astounding accomplishments, the astonishing reports in Noble Qur'an,
which were revealed through his tongue and his utterances foretelling
the bewildering events that will happen at the end of the world, will
certainly see that he attained high grades above the intellect's
capacity and comprehended facts beyond the intellect's limit of
comprehension and realization. Thus, it will be apparent to him that
his words are all true.
How would you feel if you found out that someone was thinking about
you more than 1400 years ago?
Once our holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) was sitting with some of his
companion and suddenly he (SAW) said, "Alas! I wish I could meet my
brothers."
Abu Bakr and Umar, who were around him said, "Are we not your
brothers? We believe in you and we migrated with you."
Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) replied, "You are my companions. You
accepted Islam and migrated with me but "Alas I wish I could meet my
brothers...!"
Again they asked the same question, Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw)
replied the same answer. Then they asked "O, Prophet who are those
people?"
Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) replied, "My brothers are those who are
during the Akhir uz Zaman. They will believe in me although they have
not seen me."
This shows a glimpse of our holy Prophet Muhammad's (SAW) love for us
and of course, we claim to love him as well. But when love becomes
limited to words, it becomes meaningless. And when the loved one's
advice is not taken seriously, it invalidates this love. Don't you
think?
Isn't it about time we follow our holy Prophet Muhammad (saw)? Isn't
it about time we reconsider our lives?
There is a well known tradition narrated by Holy Prophet Muhammad
(saw) which has been recorded by eminent Shia and Ahle Sunnah scholars
in their compilation thus: "One who dies without recognizing the Imam
of his age, has died the death of ignorance."
In other words his death shall be that of an infidel. Even the Noble
Qur'an declares in the 71st verse of Surah Bani Israel, "On the day
when every man shall be summoned along with their Imam." (17:71)
Salty coffee - What is the true meaning of Love and being in love
A boy met her girl friend in his friend's party. She was so
outstanding that many guys chasing after her, while he was so normal
that nobody paid attention to him.
At the end of the party, he invited her to have coffee with him, she
was surprised, but due to being polite, she accepts the request. They
sat in a nice coffee shop, he was too nervous to say anything, she
felt uncomfortable, she said, please; let me go home.
Suddenly the boy asked the waiter, "Would you please give me some
salt? I would like to put it in my coffee."
She stared at him, so strange! His face turned red, but still, he put
the salt in his coffee and drank it.
She asked him curiously; why you have this hobby?
He replied: "when I was a little boy, I was living near the sea, I
like playing in the sea, and I could feel the taste of the sea, just
like the taste of the salty coffee. Now every time I have the salty
coffee, I always think of my childhood, think of my hometown, I miss
my hometown so much, I miss my parents who are still living there"
while saying tears filled his eyes. She was deeply touched. That's his
true feeling, from the bottom of his heart.
A man, who can tell out his home sickness, He must be a man who loves
home, cares and has responsibility of home. Then she also started to
speak about her far away hometown, her childhood, family and all. That
was a really nice talk, and also a beautiful beginning of their love
story.
They continued to see eachother. She found that actually he was a man
who meets all her demands; he had tolerance, kind hearted, warm and
careful. He was such a good person but she almost missed him! Thanks
to his salty coffee!
Then the story begin just like every beautiful love story, the
princess married to the prince, and then they were living the happy
life and every time she made coffee for him, she put some salt in the
coffee, as she knew that's the way he liked it always.
After 40 year of married life, suddenly the boy had passed away, and
left her a letter, in which he said: "My dearest wife, please forgive
me, forgive my whole life lie which I told you. This was the only lie
I said to you - "the salty coffee."
Remember the first time we met? I was so nervous at that time,
actually I wanted some Sugar, but I said salt. It was hard for me to
change, so I just went ahead. I never thought that could be the
beginning of our love story! I tried to tell you the truth many times
in my life, but I was too afraid to do that, as I have promised not to
lie to you for anything in my married life.
Now I'm dying, I m afraid of nothing, so I tell you the truth: I don't
like the salty coffee, what a strange and bad taste. But I had the
salty coffee for my whole life! Since I Love you, I never feel sorry
for anything I do for you.
"Having you with me is my biggest happiness for my whole life." If I
can live for the second time, I still want to know you and have you
only in my life, even though I have to drink the salty coffee for my
whole life."
Her tears made the letter totally wet.
Someday, someone asked her: "what's the taste of salty coffee?"
"It's very sweet". She replied
True Love or what?
An elderly gent was invited to an old friends' home for dinner one
evening. He was impressed by the way his buddy preceded every request
to his wife with endearing terms such as: Honey, My Love, Darling,
Sweetheart, Pumpkin, etc. The couple had been married almost 70 years
and, clearly, they were still very much in love.
While the wife was in the kitchen, the man leaned over and said to his
host, "I think it's wonderful that, after all these years, you still
call your wife those loving pet names." The old man hung his head. "I
have to tell you the truth," he said, "Her name slipped my mind about
10 years ago and I'm scared to death to ask her what it is!"