Establish the prayers and the prize is Paradise

Allaah Almighty Says )what means(:"And when you have completed the
prayer, remember Allaah standing, sitting, or ]lying[ on your sides.
But when you become secure, re-establish]regular[ prayer. Indeed,
prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified
times."]Quran 4:103[
For forty consecutive years, Sa`eed Ibn Al-Musayyibwas to be found in
the mosque beforethe Athaan )call to prayer( was made. `Umarbecame
unconscious after he was stabbed, and according to Al-Miswar Ibn
Makhramahit was said: "Nothing would wake him up except the call to
prayer, if he is still alive." So people said to him: "The prayer has
finished, O Chief of the Believers!" He therefore awoke and said: "The
prayer! I swear by Allaah that there is no share of Islaam for whoever
abandons the prayer." He then performed the prayer while his wound was
bleeding.
After Ar-Rabee` Ibn Khaythambecame partially paralysed, he would go to
the mosque helped by two men. He was told:"O Abu Yaazeed! You have
been given permission to pray at home." He replied: "You have saidthe
truth, but I heard the caller say: 'Hayya `ala al-falah' )rush to
success(, and so I thought that whoever hears this call should answer
it, even by crawling."
'Uday Ibn Haatimsaid: "Every time the time for prayer arrives, it
finds me eager and ready to perform it )i.e. in the state of
ablution(."
Abu Bakr Ibn 'Abdullaah Al-Muzanisaid: "Who is like you, O son of
Aadam? Whenever you desire, you use water and make ablution, go to the
place of worship and thus enter the presence of your Lord )i.e. start
praying( without a translator or barrier between you and Him!"
Abu Rajaa' Al-`Ataaridisaid on his deathbed: "I am not grieved by
leaving anything behind, except that I used to bow down on my face
five times a day before my Lord, the Exalted and most Honoured."
Abul-'Aaliyahsaid: "I would travel for days to meet a man andthe first
thing I would note abouthim would be his prayer. If he was one who
established the prayer perfectly and on time, I would stay with him
and hear the knowledge he had to impart. If I found him to be careless
concerning the prayer, I would leave him and say to myself that for
things other than the prayer, he would be even more careless."
When 'Ali Ibn Al-Husaynwould perform ablution, the colour of his face
would change. His family asked him why this would always happen and he
would reply: "Do you know before Whom I am about to stand )in
prayer(?"
Yazeed Ibn 'Abdullaahwas asked: "Should we make a roof for our
mosque?" He replied:"Purify your hearts and your mosque )in its
current state( will suffice you."
'Uday Ibn Haatimsaid: "Ever since I became a Muslim, I alwaysmade sure
to have ablution whenthe Athaan is called."
'Ubayd Ibn Ja`farsaid:"I never saw my uncle Bishr Ibn Mansoor miss the
first Takbeer)that commences the congregational prayer in the mosque(,
and whenever any person stood up in our mosque to ask people for help,
he would always give him something."
Ibn Sam`ahsaid:"For forty years, I only missed the first Takbeer once,
and that was whenmy mother died. If you know of aman's disinterest in
being present in the mosque for the first Takbeer, then wash your
hands of him )i.e. know that there is no good in him(."
Sufyaan Ibn `Uyaynahsaid:"Honouring the prayer includes arriving
before the Iqaamah )the call that establishes the prayer( iscalled."
Maymoon Ibn Mahraanwas once delayed from coming to the mosque on time.
When he did eventually arrive, he was told that the people had already
concluded the prayer:"We all belong to Allaah and to Him shall be our
return! I value the congregational prayer more than being made
governor of Iraq," helamented.
Yoonus Ibn 'Abdullaahsaid:"What is the matter with me? If I lose a
mere chicken I feel concerned, but when I miss a prayer in
congregation it does not grieve me!"
`Umaronce said while standing on the pulpit: "A man may have white
hair in Islam )i.e. reach old age while being Muslim(, but has not yet
completed even a single prayer for Allaah the Exalted!" He was asked:
"Why is that?" He replied:"Because he does not perfect the prayer's
required Khushoo`)solemness( and fails to be attentive to Allaah with
his heart."
Hammaad Ibn Salamahsaid:"I have never stood up for prayerwithout
imagining that the Hellfire is before my eyes."
Mu`aath Ibn Jabaladvised his son saying:"My son! Pray the prayer of he
who is just about to leave this world, and imagine that you may never
be able to pray again. Know that the believer dies between two good
deeds: one that he has just performed, and the other that heintended
to perform next."
Bakr Al-Muzanisaid:"If you want your prayer to be of benefit to you
then say to yourself prior to it that you may not have the chance to
perform another prayer.'"
Shubrumahsaid:"We once accompanied Qarz Al-Haarithi on a journey;
whenever we would camp down in an area, he would scan it with his eyes
and when hefound a good piece of land that he liked, he would go to it
and pray there until it was time for usto leave."
Al-Qaasim Ibn Muhammadsaid:"Whenever I went out in themorning, I would
visit )my aunt( `Aa'ishahand greet her. One day, I found her
performing the Dhuhaa prayer and reciting the following verse from the
Quran repeatedly, while crying and invoking Allaah )which means(:"So
Allaah conferred favour upon us and protected us from the punishment
of the Scorching Fire."]Quran 52:27[ I stood there until I felt weary,
then I left and went to the marketplace, telling myself that I would
return to her when I finish. Later, when I did return to her, I found
her still standing in prayer, reciting the same verse, and crying and
invoking Allaah.'"
Maymoon Ibn Hayyaansaid:"I never saw Muslim Ibn Yasaar turn his head
while praying, whether the prayer was short or long. Once, a part of
the mosque collapsed while he was praying inthe mosque and the noise
causedpeople who were as far away as the market to be terrified, but
he felt no fear whatsoever and continued praying without even moving
his head." Healso said:"I accompanied `Ataa' Ibn Rabaah for eighteen
years. When he became old and weak, he would stand in prayer and read
close to two hundred verses fromChapter Al-Baqarah while standing so
firmly that no part ofhim would move."
Abu Bakr Ibn 'Ayyaashsaid:"If you saw Habeeb Ibn Abu Thaabit while in
prostration, you would think that he was dead due to its extended
length."
'Ali Ibn Al-Fudhaylsaid:"I saw Ath-Thawri go into prostration while
praying, and I performed Tawaaf)circumambulation( around the House
)i.e., the Ka'bah( seven times before he raised his head from
prostration."
'Uthmaan Ibn Abi Dahrashsaid:"I never performed a prayer without
invoking Allaah afterwards to forgive me for falling into shortcomings
in the way I performed it."
Mu`aawiyah Ibn Murrahsaid:"I lived among seventy of the companions of
the Prophetand had they lived among you today, they would not
recognise any of your acts except the Athaan!" Healso said:"If a man
from our predecessors was resurrected among you today, the only thing
he would recognise would be your Qiblah)prayer direction(."
When Haatim Al-Asammwasasked about his prayer, he replied:"When the
time for prayer draws near, I perform a perfect ablution, go to where
I will pray and sit there until I am fully cognisant of what I am
about to do. Then, I stand up andpray, imagining that the Ka`bah is in
front of my eyes, Paradise to my right, Hell to my left and the Angel
of Death behind me. I imagine that it is the last prayer Iwill ever
perform; I stand up in hope of Allaah, His Paradise and His rewards,
and in fear of Allaah's torment in the Hellfire. I then say the
Takbeer while having full attention. I recite the Quran calmly, bow
humbly, prostrate with humility and attentiveness and then sit on my
left leg, with my left foot laid on the floor and the right foot
raisedup - all the while praying with sincerity. Afterwards, I have no
certainty about whether that prayer was accepted from me or not."
One of our pious predecessorssaid:"O son of Aadam! You need your share
of this life, but your need of the Hereafter is far greater. If you
take care of your share of this life then you will lose your share of
the Hereafter, and you will very soon lose your share of this life,
too. But if you take care of your share of the Hereafter then you will
also win your full share of this life with ease."
Talq Ibn Habeebsaid:"Allaah's rights are greater than the slave's
capacity and ability to fulfil them. Therefore, reach everymorning in
a state of repentance and every night also in a state of repentance."

Black Seed )Nigella sativa(: A cure for every disease

Abu Hurayrahnarrated that the Prophetsaid:"Use this Black Seed
regularly, because it is a cure for every disease, except
death."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
What is the Black Seed?
Its botanical name is Nigella sativa. It is believed to be indigenous
to the Mediterranean region but has been cultivated into other parts
of the world including the Arabian peninsula, northern Africa and
parts of Asia.
The Black seeds originate from the common fennel flower plant)Nigella
sativa( of the buttercup)Ranunculaceae( family. It is sometimes
mistakenly confused with the fennel herb plant)Foeniculum vulgare(.
The plant has finely divided foliage and pale bluish purple or white
flowers. The stalk of the plant reaches a height of twelve to eighteen
inches as its fruit, theblack seed, matures.
The Black Seed forms a fruit capsule which consists of many white
trigonal seeds. Once the fruit capsule has matured, it opens up and
the seeds contained within are exposed to the air, becoming black in
color.
The Black seeds are small black grains with a rough surface and an
oily white interior, similar to onion seeds. The seeds have
littlebouquet, though when rubbed, their aroma resembles oregano. They
have a slightly bitter, peppery flavor and a crunchy texture.
The Black Seed is also known by other names, varying between places.
Some call it black caraway, others call it black cumin, onion seeds or
even coriander seeds. The plant has norelation to the common kitchen
herb, cumin.
Muslims' use of the Black Seed:
Muslims have been using and promoting the use of the Black Seed for
hundreds of years, and hundreds of articles have been written about
it. The Black Seed has also been in use worldwide for over 3000 years.
It is not only a prophetic herb, but it also holds a unique place in
the medicine of the Prophet.
It is unique in that it was not used profusely before the Prophet
Muhammadmade itsuse popular. Although there weremore than 400 herbs in
use before the Prophet Muhammadand recorded in the herbals of Galen
and Hippocrates, the Black Seed was not one of the most popular
remedies of the time. Because of the way Islam has spread, the usage
and popularity of the Black Seed is widely known as a "remedy of the
Prophet." In fact, a large part of this herbal preparation's
popularity is based on the teachings of the Prophet.
The Black Seed has become very popular in recent years and is marketed
and sold by many Muslim and non-Muslim businesses.
Itsnutrients:
The Black Seed is rich in nutritional values. It contain almost 40%
fixed oils and 1.4% volatile oils. It also contains around fifteen
amino acids, proteins, calcium, iron, sodium, and potassium. Among its
most effective compositions are thymoquinone, dithymoquinone,
thymohydroquinone, and thymol.The magazine Food Chemistry found the
Black Seed to be high in protein, carbohydrates, essential fatty
acids, vitamins A, B1, B2, C and niacin as well as calcium, potassium
and iron. These are the very nutrients that modern science has found
that we most lack. It also provides many of the same nutrients that
the FDA recommends to help prevent disease and slow down the aging
process.
Dr. Michael Tierra, author of Planetary Herbology, also found the
Black Seed to be high in the above nutrients. In addition, he found a
remarkable number of sterols, especially beta-sitosterol,which is
known to have anti-carcinogenic properties. The Journal of American
Scientists reports that Black Seed has a number of useful properties
suchas antihistamine, antioxidant, antibiotic, antimycotic and
broncho-dilating effects.
The benefits and uses of the Black Seed:
The Black Seed is an excellent herb with many benefits and uses,
especially when it comes to maintaining a strong and healthyimmune
system.The prophetic reference in describing the Black Seed, as having
a healing for all illnesses is not exaggerated as it at first appears.
The Black Seed has been used for a variety of medical problems for
several thousand years. These uses rangefrom stomach aches to asthma,
cancer to coughs, and the traditional use as a spice. The Black Seed
is also used as: a carminative )rids the body of gas from the
intestines(, a digestive)aids in the digestion of foods(, a diuretic
)increases urine flow by ridding the body of excess water(, an
emmenagogue)promotes and regulates menstruation(, a
galactagogue)increases the production of milk(,a resolvent )dissolves
boils and swelling(, a stimulant )increases the flow of adrenaline and
energy(, a stomachic )relieves stomach disorders(, a
sudorific)increases perspiration(, a tonic)improves bodily functions(,
and a vermifuge )expels worms(. Caution should be taken when using the
black seed by pregnant or potentially pregnant women, as high doses of
this product could induce spontaneous abortions.
To insure that you are taking the Black Seed look for the words
Nigella Sativa. Only this plant, as opposed to true cumin or coriander
has the ability to "heal all diseases."
Research suggests that the Black Seed is an effective antitumor
treatment for certain types of cancer, including breast cancer and
fibrocystic breast disease. The Black Seed may also be of possible
benefit in treating high blood pressure. Except its potential to cause
spontaneous abortions )and only at high dosages(, there may be little
if any toxic side effects to using theBlack Seed.
Recent research has provided evidence that most illnesses arisebecause
of an imbalanced or dysfunctional immune system, which cannot perform
its primaryfunction of defending the body optimally. Researches also
indicate that the Black Seed contains an ability to significantlyboost
the human immune system - if taken over time.
The role of the Black Seed in increasing human immunity was not clear
before 1986, when Dr. Qaadi and his colleagues started a series of
researches in the United States. Afterwards, many researches were
launched in various countries. Dr. Qaadi proved that the use of the
Black Seed strengthens immunity since the ratio of the T assistant
lymph cells increased by an average of 72% compared to the restraining
cells. Also, there was a considerable development in the activity of
natural killer cells with an average of 74%.
The results of many modern researches supported the findings of Qaadi.
Amongst them are the results published by the International Immunity
magazinein August 1995 about the effect of black seed on the outer
lymph cells and the activity of white blood multi-nucleus cells. In
September 2000, the International Immunity magazinealso published a
research on the effect of the Black Seed oil in preventing
cytomegalovirus on laboratory rats. The Black Seed oilhas been tested
as an anti-virus substance and the immunity acquired during the early
stages of the disease was measured through determining the natural
killer cells and other things.
In October 1999, the European magazine of Cancer published an article
on the effect of thymoquinone on abdomen cancer in rats. Likewise, in
May 1998, a magazine specialized in anti-cancer researches published
an article on the extracts of the Black Seed as a treatment for cancer
tumors. On April 2000, the Ethanol Medical magazine wrote about the
toxicity and immunity effects of ethanol extracted from the Black
Seeds. Also, in February 1995, Medical Plants magazine published an
article on the effects of the Black Seed stable oiland thymoquinone on
white blood cells. Many other researches came out supporting these
facts.
More research is being done on the effectiveness of the Black Seed.
Research trials are also being planned in various countries to study
its actual effects on humans. However, we don't need to look any
further than the Prophet'swords that tell us there is healing in
thisplant. As long as we trust in Allaah and take the prescription His
Prophethas given us, we will all be evidence of this magnificent
plant's abilities to heal all diseases.
Nonetheless, more is needed to be learned about the appropriatedoses
of this herb for various medical problems. We pray that Allaah may
guide Muslim physicians to take a closer look atthis plant and begin
prescribing it for all of our physical ailments.
Conclusion:
The Prophettold us that the Black Seed is a cure for every disease.
The Arabic word 'Shifaa')cure( came without the definite article which
means that it is an indefinite word that covers most cures. This means
that the Black Seed contributes to the cure of every disease. It has
been scientifically proved that the immunity system is the only system
that has the ability to combat diseases and produce cells that kill
viruses.
Based on these facts, we can conclude that the Black Seed is a cure
for every disease because it strengthens the immunity system which is
responsible for curing diseases and combating viruses.
These scientific facts are obvious. No one can claim the credit of
knowing these facts fourteen centuries ago, except a Prophet. Allaah
Almighty Says )what means(:"Nor does he )the Prophet( speak of )his
own( inclination. It is not but a revelation revealed."]Quran 53: 3-4[

Common painkillers can lead to hearing loss

Loud music or noise isn't the onlything that can damage your hearing.
A new study in men hints that popping over-the-counter painkillers
regularly can also lead to hearing loss, especially in younger men.
In the study, researchers found that men younger than age 50 who
regularly took acetaminophen more than two times a week had roughly
doublethe risk of hearing loss comparedto men who did not take
acetaminophen regularly. Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in
Tylenol and certain other pain relievers.
The researchers also found that men younger than age 50 who regularly
took ibuprofen )the main ingredient in Advil( or othernon-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs )NSAID( at least twice a week had a nearly
two-thirds higher risk of hearing loss than men who took NSAIDs less
often. Men who took aspirin twice a week had a one-third higher risk.
So should middle-aged men empty the medicine cabinet of these pain
relievers? Not necessarily, because each individual's actual, or
absolute, risk of hearing loss with these medicines is likely fairly
small.
The overall absolute risk of hearing loss in the population is 1
percent per year. Those who take an analgesic have an increased risk
beyond the 1 percent, Dr. Sharon G. Curhan, of Channing Laboratory and
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston explained in an email to Reuters
Health.
"But if you consider that people continue to take the analgesic
foryears, then after 10 years the risk would be 10 percent in the
overall population and the risk in those taking an analgesic would be
proportionately higher," Curhan said.
"Even though these analgesics are available in the drugstore without a
prescription, they are still medications and there are potential side
effects," Curhan said.
"If individuals find a need to take these types of medications
regularly, they should consult with their health care professional in
order to discuss the risks and benefits and to explore possible
alternatives," she advised.
The findings, published in the American Journal of Medicine thismonth,
stem from nearly 27,000 men enrolled since 1986 in the Health
Professionals' Follow-Up Study. As part of the study, the men, who
were between 40 and 74 years old at the outset, provided information
on analgesic use, hearing loss and other relevant factors every 2
years for 18 years, during which time 3,488 men were diagnosed with
hearing loss.
In the group as a whole, the risk of hearing loss, after factoring out
relevant risk factors, was 12 percent higher in men who used aspirin
at least twice a week relative to men who used aspirin less than twice
a week. The risk was about 21 percent higher in those who used NSAIDs
or acetaminophen at least twice a week.
Among men younger than 50, therisk of hearing loss was higher by33
percent, 61 percent and 99 percent with twice weekly use of aspirin,
NSAIDs, and acetaminophen, respectively, compared to risks in men of
the same age who used these painkillers less often. For NSAIDs and
acetaminophen, the risk of hearing loss increased with longer duration
of use.
In contrast to the findings in younger men, regular aspirin use did
not increase the risk of hearing loss in men aged 60 and older, and
the ties between hearing loss and regular use of NSAIDs and
acetaminophen were weaker in the older men.
Curhan's team points out that very high doses of aspirin are well
known to have toxic effects on the ear. These effects include
reversible hearing loss and tinnitus )ringing in the ears(. On the
other hand, low-dose aspirin has been reported to protect against
hearing loss caused by certain antibiotics and excessive noise.
Very high doses of NSAIDs are toxic to the ears of animals, and there
have been a few reports of very high doses of NSAIDs causinghearing
loss in humans.
In their study, the researchers didnot have information on dosages
taken by the men or why they were regularly using these medicines --
only how often they took them. They also did not have information on
lifetime exposure to loud noise, a common cause of hearing loss.
"Hearing loss is the most common sensory disorder in the US and
factors other than age and noise might influence the risk," the
researchers note in their report. Aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen
are the three most commonly used drugs in the US and they could be
"one of the few preventable causes of hearing loss," Curhan said.

Dought & clear - Ramadan - Kissing

Asalaam u alykum.
My wife told me in the morning that I had tried to kiss her last night
in the state of fasting. This happened once before and on that
occasion I do not remember anything. However, last night I think I do
remember inserting my tongue in her mouth and feeling the taste of her
tongue, although noexchange of saliva (I think). If I was fully aware
I would not have kissed her. My wife says my eyes were open. However I
may have gotten up during my sleep. Exact details I can'tremember.
Does this necessitate a qada and or kaffarah according to the Hanafi
school?
Jazakallah u khairun for your reply.
Could I please ask one other question: My 7day old baby vomited over
me. I wiped this off my shoulder with a tissue. I changed my shirt.
Then I forgot to wash my shoulder and prayed Isha and Fajr and zohr
and then realised that I had not washed the area(shoulder) with water.
Would my wudu and salah have been valid? I did repeat the salah to be
on the safe side.
-
Bismillah
Al-jawab billahi at-taufeeq (the answer with Allah's guidance)
1) The Hanafi jurists (Fuqaha) state that non-sexual affectionate
kissing or Mubasharah (skin to skin), from which there is no fear of
leading to intercourse orejaculation, is allowed and not disliked.
But, if one fears that kissing or Mubasharah will lead to ejaculation
or intercourse, then it will be disliked to kiss or do Mubasharah.
However, one's fast remains valid as long as kissing or Mubasharah
does not lead to actual sexual intercourse or does not result in
ejaculation. If kissing or Mubasharah resulted in ejaculation, one's
fast would become invalid and hence will have to be made up (Qadha),
without having to expiate for it (Kaffara). (Al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya,
1/200 & 1/204, Hashiyatut Tahtawi Pg. 680)
Also, Ghusl will be necessary if ejaculatory fluid was discharged.
N.B. To swallow the saliva of the wife will invalidate the fast then
Qadha and Kaffarah will be necessary. (Nurul Idhah Pg.143)
If the mentioned incident took place during the night, then there is
no problem in this as it is permissible toeat, drink and have sexual
intercourse etc until dawn.
"It is made lawful for you to have sexual relations with your wives on
the night of As-Ṣiyam…Eat and drink until the white thread becomes
clear to you from a black thread at the dawn." (2:187)
2) The vomit that is full mouth will be considered Najasat Ghaliza.
(Shaami vol.1 pg.266)
If this is equal to a Dirham, which is the circumference of the inner
hollow of the palmthen it is Wajib (necessary) to wash this from your
garments. If it is less than this amount then it will be Mustahab
(preferable).
However, if one forgets this then Salah performed in such clothing
will be valid.
(Quduri Pg. 24, Nurul Idhah Pg.53, Hashiyat Tahtawi Pg.157, Ahsanul
Fataawa Vol.2 Pg.89)
If it is more than a Dirham then it is Fardh to remove it and Salah
with this amount will be invalid and Qadha will need to be done.