The ruling of theft in Islam

Theft is Haraam)forbidden( according to the Quran, Sunnah]sayings of
Prophet Muhammad[ and Ijmaa' )scholarly consensus(. Allaah, the Most
Exalted, has condemned this action and decreed an appropriate
punishment for it. The Hadd ]i.e. the legal punishment prescribed by
the Sharee'ah )Islamic law([ for a thief is to cut off thethief's
hand. Allaah Almighty Says in the Noble Quran )what means(:
"]As for[ the thief, the male and the female, amputate their handsin
recompense for what they earned ]i.e. committed[ as a deterrent
]punishment[ from Allaah. And Allaah is Exalted in Might and
Wise."]Quran 5:38[
The Prophetsaid:
"The hand )of the thief( should becut off for )the theft of( a quarter
of a Dinar or more."]Al-Bukhaari[
The Prophetcursed the thief because he is a corrupt element in
society, and if he is left unpunished, his corruption will spread and
infect the body of the Ummah )Muslim community(. Hesaid:
"May Allaah curse the thief who steals an egg and has his hand cut
off, or steals a rope and has his hand cut off."]Al-Bukhaari[
What indicates that this ruling is definitive is the fact that a
Makhzoomi noblewoman )from the tribe of Makhzoom( stole at the time of
the Prophetand Usaamah Ibn Zaydwanted to intercede for her. The
Prophetbecame angryand said:
"Do you intercede concerning oneof the Hadd set by Allaah? Those who
came before you were destroyed because if a rich man among them stole,
they would let him off, but if a lowly person stole, they would carry
out the punishment on him. By Allaah, if Faatimah Bint )daughter of(
Muhammad were to steal, I would cut off her hand."]Al-Bukhaari[
This is the ruling of Allaahconcerning theft; that thehand should be
cut off from the wrist joint.
Al-Nawawisaid in his commentary on Saheeh Muslim )Hadeeth collection(:
Al-Shaafa'i, Abu Haneefah, Maalik and the majority )of scholars(said:
"The hand should be cut off from the wrist, where thehand meets the
forearm."Al-Qurtubisaid: "All the scholars said: The hand should be
cut off from the wrist, not as some of the innovators do when they cut
off the fingers and leave the thumb."
Because cutting off the hand is a serious matter, it should not be
done for just any case of theft. A combination of conditions must be
fulfilled before the hand of a thief is cut off. These conditions are
as follows:
1- The thing should have been taken by stealth; if it was not taken by
stealth, then the hand should not be cut off, such as when property
has been seized by force in front of other people, because in this
case the owner of the property could have asked for helpto stop the
thief.
2- The stolen property should be something of worth, because that
which is of no worth has no sanctity, such as musical instruments,
wine and pigs.
2- The value of the stolen property should be above a certain limit,
which is three Islamic Dirhams or a quarter of an Islamic Dinar, or
their equivalent in other currencies.
3- The stolen property should have been taken from a place where it
had been put away, i.e., aplace where people usually put their
property, such as a cupboard, for example.
4- The theft itself has to be proven, either by the testimony of two
qualified witnesses or by the confession of the thief twice.
5- The person from whom the property was stolen has to ask for it
back; if he does not, then)the thief's( hand does not have to be cut
off.
If these conditions are fulfilled, then the hand must be cut off. If
this ruling was applied in the societies which are content with
man-made laws and which have castaside the Sharee'ah of Allaah and
replaced it with human laws, this would be the most beneficial
treatment for this phenomenon. But the matter is as Allaah Says )what
means(:
"Then is it the judgement of ]the time of[ ignorance they desire? But
who is better than Allaah in judgement for a people who are certain
]in faith[."]Quran 5:50[

The phenomenon of spinsterhood -II

One of the main reasons for the spread of this phenomenon is that some
parents oppressively prevent their daughters from marrying suitable
young men, despite the fact that the Prophet,said:"If a man whose
religionand manners you approve of comes to you )proposing to your
daughter(, then give her in marriage to him, otherwise, there will be
turmoil on the earthand great corruption."]At-Tirmithi & Ibn Maajah[
Some fathers breached the trust from Allaah which they have carried
regarding their daughtersby preventing them from marriage. It may be
that a young man comes to them asking for their daughter and they
delay or prohibit him for no reason, citingbaseless excuses, it may be
that their criteria for acceptance is trivial, such as how much his
salary is, or what his career aspirations are, while at the same time
totally disregarding his practice of the religion, manners and
honesty. Indeed some fathers see their daughters as a piece of
merchandise to be sold at an auction.
Such fathers do not realise that this is in fact oppression and
betrayal. Are these fathers unaware of the painful real life stories
that are widespread? These stories should act as a warning for all
parents to stop their heedlessness and protect their honour and
dignity before itis too late.
Where is their mercy? Do they notconsider the consequences of their
actions? How can someone who knows about the nature of awoman imprison
her for life? If these people had used their minds then they would
have looked for suitable husbands for their daughters, just as
'Umaroffered his daughter for marriage to Abu Bakr and then 'Uthmaan.
Sa'eed Ibn Al-Musayyibgive his daughter in marriage to one of his
students, indeed this was the practice of our Salaf. Indeed making
marriage difficult results in destroying homes, killing chastity,
ruining morality and spreading evil.
Rejecting suitable men and delaying women from marriage jeopardises
and endangers men, woman and indeed the community as a whole. Suitable
men are those whose practice ofIslaamis sound, whose manners are good
and who are kind, honest and from a good family. The
Prophet,,said:"Marry theone who has religion )i.e.,
devoutMuslim("]Al-Bukhaari & Muslim[
Another reason for the spread of this evil phenomenon is the
exorbitant dowries that some fathers request, so much so that marriage
becomes impossible forsome people; in some countries dowries reach
ridiculous and unimaginable levels, which results in a mountain of
debt for anyone who tries to pay it. The greed which some people
suffer from is truly saddening; they ask for amounts which the one
proposing could never afford, even if he were to save for half of his
life. Such people's greed and lust for this life has resulted in
making honourable women into pieces of merchandise, which they then
sell. All this has resulted in a huge increase in the number of
unmarried women.
The dowry in Islam is a mean andnot an objective and inflating it has
terrible effects on individuals and communities which are known to
everyone. It prevents marriages from taking place or results in
marriages to unfit or unsuitable partners from non-practicing
communities, which results in regret and sorrow.
This greed which some people suffer from is completely the opposite of
how our Salaf)predecessors(used to be, as'Umarsaid:"Do not inflate
dowries, because if it was good for ones livelihood, or righteous to
do, then the Prophetwould have done this".In fact, the Prophet,gave a
woman in marriage to a man and the dowry was what he had memorised
from the Quran, and hesaid to another man regarding the amount of
dowry to give:"Give her a ring made from iron"and 'Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn
'Awfgave a golden coin as his dowry.
After hearing all this, how can people ask for what they do? Do they
not know that they will be questioned about that which they are
entrusted with? Do they lack any mercy whatsoever? Moreover, the
tradition of excessive expenditure on weddings which some people
impose upon the groom only adds to the problem, and it is only done in
order to show off and boast.
Scholars, wealthy people and people who hold a respected position in
their community mustaddress this issue and set an example for the
Muslim nation. The media should educate people, highlight the
solutions and offer them to the people.
Brothers and sisters who are suffering from this problem should
persevere, remain steadfast and chaste and be content with the decree
of Allaahbecause what He has for them is better.
After knowing about the disease, comes information about the cure. The
cure for spinsterhood lies in strengthening the foundation of faith in
the Muslim nation and raising this coming generation upon the correct
belief, while emphasising on morals and principles in our Muslim
communities.
We should also facilitate marriages, reduce dowries and marry our
daughters to suitable young men based on the correct Islamic criteria
for choosing a spouse. We should guide people to suitable young men
and the wealthy should support those who wish to get married.
Finally, to comprehensively address the solution to the problem of
spinsterhood, the Muslim community must give great attention to the
issue of polygamy according to Islamic guidelines, because there are
far too many women who are single,divorced or widowed. Having
saidthis, those men who partake in polygamy must be just, merciful and
wise when dealing with theirwives, especially the first one, because
we are always hearing complaints from sisters about their husbands
being unjust to them. We must remember that the Prophetsaid:"He who
has two wives and favors one over another )i.e., by being unjustto one
of them by not fulfilling his duties towards her( will be onthe Day of
Resurrection with one side of his face cut and hanging)as a form of
punishment(."]Ahmad[

Dought and clear - Those to whom zakaat al-fitr may be given

Can zakaat al-fitr be given to people other than the poor and needy,
among the eight categories of people mentioned in the Qur'an(to whom
zakaah may be given)?
Praise be to Allah.
There is a difference of scholarly opinion concerning this matter. The
Shaafa'is are of the view that the categories of people to whom zakaat
al-fitr may be given are the same as those to whom zakaah on one's
wealth may be given.
The Maalikis are of the view that zakaat al-fitr isonly for the poor
and needy. This view was also favoured by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah
and Ibn al-Qayyim; among contemporary scholars it was favoured by
Shaykh Ibn Baaz. (May Allah have mercy on them all)
It says inHaashiyat ad-Dasooqi(1/506): Zakaat al-fitr may be given to
any poor, free Muslim except a Haashimi (descendant ofBanu Haashim),
but it may not be given to one who works in collecting it, those whose
hearts are to be softened towards Islam, for freeing slaves, or to a
debtor, mujaahid, or a wayfarer to help him gethome; rather it is
prescribed specifically for the poor. End quote.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:This
opinion has the strongest evidence.
End quote fromMajmoo' Fataawa Shaykh al-Islam, 25/71
Ibn al-Qayyim said inZaad al-Ma'aad(2/22): It was the teaching of the
Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) to single out the
poor for receipt of this charity; he did not share it out among the
eight categories (of those whoare entitled to zakaah), and he did not
issue instructions to that effect, and his Companions and those who
came after them did not do that either. Rather one of the two opinions
in our view is that it is not permissible to give it to anyone except
the poor in particular. This view is stronger than the view that it
must be divided among the eight categories.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) said: It is to be given
to the poor and needy, because of the proven report from Ibn 'Abbaas
(may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) enjoined zakaat al-fitr as
a purification for the fasting person from idle and obscene talk, and
to feed the poor.
And Allah knows best.

Dought and clear - The rights of one Muslim over another include those that are obligatoryand those that are mustahabb.

We know the hadeeth of the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be
upon him) about the rights of one Muslim over another. Myquestion is:
Will we be sinning if we do not fulfil one of these rights towards our
Muslim brother? i.e., will we incur a burden of sin thereby?.
Praise be to Allaah.
The rights that one Muslim has over another are many, some of whichare
individual obligations that are required of each person,and if he
fails to do themhe is sinning. Others are communal obligations; ifsome
people do them, the burden of sin is waived for the rest. And some are
mustahabb (encouraged) but not obligatory, so the Muslimis not sinning
if he does not do them.
Al-Bukhaari (1240) and Muslim (2162) narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may
Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: "The rights of one
Muslim over another are five: returning the greeting of salaam,
visiting the sick, attending funerals, accepting invitations, and
sayingyarhamuk Allah(may Allah have mercy on you) to one who sneezes."
And Muslim (2162) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased
with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be
upon him) said: "The rights of one Muslim over another are six." It
was said: What are they, O Messenger of Allaah? He said: "If you meet
him, greet him with salaam; if he invitesyou, accept the invitation;
if he asks for advice, give him sincere advice; if he sneezes
andpraises Allaah, sayYarhamuk Allaah(may Allaah have mercy on you);
if he falls sick, visit him; and if he dies, attend his funeral."
Ash-Shawkaani (may Allah have mercy on him) said: What is meantby the
words "The rightsof the Muslim" is that they should not be omitted and
doing them is either obligatory, or recommended to such an extent that
it is very similar to being obligatory and should not be omitted. The
word "right" (haqq) maybe used in the sense of obligatory, as was
mentioned by Ibn al-A'raabi.
End quote fromNayl al-Awtaar, 4/21
1.
Returning the greeting of salaam is obligatory ifthe greeting is given
to one person. If it is given to a group, then it is obligatory upon
the group (fard kifaayahor communal obligation; if one of the group
returnsthe greeting, the obligation as been met). With regard to
initiatingthe greeting, the basic principle is that it is Sunnah. It
says inal-Mawsoo'ah al-Fiqhiyyah(11/314):
Initiating the greeting is Sunnah mu'akkadah (a confirmed Sunnah)
because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:
"Spread the greeting of salaam amongst yourselves." It is obligatory
to return the greeting if it is given to one person. If the greeting
is given to a group, then in their caseresponding is a fard kifaayah
(communal obligation); if one of them responds the sin is waived from
the others, but if they all respond, they have all done what is
required, Whether they respond all together or one after another. If
they all refrain from responding,then they are all sinning because of
the report which says: "The rights of one Muslim over another are
five: returning (the greeting) of salaam…"
End quote.
2.
Visiting the sick it is a communal obligation. Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said:
Visiting the sick is a fard kifaayah (communal obligation).
Majmoo' Fataawa wa Rasaa'il Ibn 'Uthaymeen,13/1085
See also the answer to question no. 71968
3.
Attending funerals is also a fard kifaayah (communal obligation). See
the answer to question no. 67576
4.
With regard to acceptinginvitations, if the invitation is to a wedding
feast, then the majority of scholars are of the view that it is
obligatory to accept unless there is a legitimate shar'i reason not to
do so. If it is for something other than a wedding feast, the majority
are of the view that it is mustahabb. But there are conditions for
accepting invitations in general terms. For details of that please
seethe answer to question no. 22006
5.
With regard to sayingYarhamuk Allah(May Allah have mercy on you)to one
who sneezes, there is a difference of opinion concerning the ruling.
It says inal-Mawsoo'ah al-Fiqhiyyah, 4/22:
This sayingYarhamuk Allah(May Allah have mercy on you) is Sunnah
according to the Shaafa'is.
According to the Hanbalis and the Hanafis, it is obligatory.
The Maalikis said – and itis an opinion among the Hanbalis – that it
is a communal obligation. It was narrated from al-Bayaan that the
stronger view is that it isan individual obligation (fard 'ayn),
because of the hadeeth: "It is the duty of every Muslim who hears him
(the one who sneezes) to say: Yarhamuk Allah (may Allah have mercy on
you). End quote
The more correct opinion is that it is obligatory on the one who hears
the sneezer praise Allah (by saying "Al-hamdu Lillah"), because of the
report narrated by al-Bukhaari (6223) from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be
pleased with him) from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be
upon him) who said: "Allaah likes the act of sneezing and dislikes
theact of yawning, so if any one of you sneezes and praises Allaah
(says 'al-hamdu Lillaah'), it is aduty on every Muslim who hears him
to say to him, 'Yarhamuk Allaah (may Allaah have mercy on you).'"
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said:We have quoted above
the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah, in which it says: "if any one of you
sneezes and praises Allaah (says 'al-hamdu Lillaah'), it is a duty
(haqq) on every Muslim who hears him to say to him, 'Yarhamuk
Allaah(may Allaah have mercy on you).". al-Tirmidhi included the
hadeeth of Anas under the heading: Chapter on what was narrated about
it being obligatory to sayYarhamuk Allah(may Allah have mercy on
you)when one who sneezes saysAl-hamdu Lillah(Praise be to Allah). This
indicates that it is obligatory in his view, and this is the correct
view, because of the hadeeths that clearly indicate that it is
obligatory and there was nothing to contradict that, and Allah knows
best.
One of them is the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah mentioned above, and
another is his other hadeeth, "There are five (rights) that the Muslim
has over his brother," which is also mentioned above. Another is the
hadeeth of Saalim ibn 'Ubayd, in which it says: "Let those who are
with him say to him:Yarhamuk Allah(may Allah have mercy on you)." And
another is the report narrated by at-Tirmidhi from 'Ali who said: The
Messengerof Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:
"The Muslim has six (rights) over his fellow-Muslim: he shouldgreet
him with salaam when he meets him; he should respond when heinvites
him; he should sayYarhamuk Allah(may Allah have mercy on you)if he
sneezes; he should visit him if he falls sick; he should attend his
funeral if he dies; and heshould love for him whathe loves for
himself." He (at-Tirmidhi) said: This is a hasan hadeeth. It was also
narrated via another isnaad from the Prophet (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him). Some of the scholars spoke negatively about
al-Haarith al-A'war (one of the narrators). In the same chapter it is
also narrated from Abu Hurayrah, Abu Ayyoob, al-Bara' and Abu Mas'ood.
And another of these hadeeths is that which was narrated by
at-Tirmidhi from Abu Ayyoob, according to which the Messenger of Allah
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "If one of you
sneezes, let him sayAl-hamdu Lillah(praise be to Allah); and let him
say'ala kulli haal(in all circumstances). And let the one who responds
tohim say:Yarhamuk Allah(may Allah have mercy on you). And let him
say:Yahdikum Allahu wa yuslih baalakum(May Allah guide you and set
your affairs straight).
There are four kinds of proof in the hadeeth quoted above ("if any one
of you sneezes and praises Allaah (says 'al-hamdu Lillaah'), it is
aduty (haqq) on every Muslim who hears him tosay to him, 'Yarhamuk
Allaah (may Allaah have mercy on you)"):
(i)there is a clear statement that it is obligatory to sayYarhamuk
Allah(may Allah have mercy on you), which cannot be interpreted in any
other way;
(ii)it is made obligatory by use of the wordhaqq(translated above as duty);
(iii)it is made obligatory by use of the word'ala(on). This word
clearly means that it is obligatory
(iv)it is enjoined. There can be no doubt that there are many duties
that are proven to be obligatory on the basis of less evidence than
this. And Allah knows best.
End quote fromHaashiyat Ibn al-Qayyim 'ala Sunan Abi Dawood, 13/259
He also said: The apparent meaning of the hadeeth mentioned above is
that sayingYarhamuk Allahis an individual obligation upon everyone who
hears the one who sneezed sayAl-hamdu Lillah; it is not acceptable for
just one of them to say it. This is one of the two scholarly opinions,
which was favoured by the Maalikis Ibn Abi Zayd and Abu Bakr ibn
al-'Arabi, and it cannot be otherwise.
End quote fromZaad al-Ma'aad, 2/437
6.
With regard to giving him advice if he asks for it, it is most likely
that offering advice is a communal obligation.
Ibn Muflih (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
The apparent meaning of the words of Ahmad and our companions is that
it is obligatory to offer advice to the Muslim, even if he does not
ask for it, as is the apparent meaning of the reports.
End quote fromal-Adaabash-Shar'iyyahby Ibn Muflih, 1/307
Al-Mullah 'Ali al-Qaari (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
"If he asks you for advice" means if he asks you for advice, then
giveit to him; it is obligatory.It is also obligatory to give advice
even if he did not ask for it.
End quote fromMirqaat al-Mafaateeh, 5/213
al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
It is clear that what is meant by "duty" (haqq) here is that it is
obligatory. This is different from the wordsof Ibn Battaal who said
that what is meant is theduty of respect and companionship. It
seemsthat what is meant here is that it is a communal obligation.
End quote fromFath al-Baari, 3/113
And Allah knows best.

Dought and clear - Is feeling proud of one’s religion a kind of blameworthy pride?.

Is there anything wrongwith a person feeling proud of his religion or
feeling proud of a person who does something good? Because we know
that pride in the heart is something bad.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
With regard to feeling proud of one's religion and of belonging to it,
this is something that is prescribed in Islam and is a righteous deed.
A story from one of the battles illustrates this point: Abu Sufyaan,
the leader of Quraysh, expressed pride in his religion and the
religionof his people – as he hadnot yet entered Islam. The Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) answered his boast with an
expressionof the Muslim's pride in his religion and his affirmation of
the Oneness of the Lord of the Worlds.
Al-Bukhaari narrated in hisSaheeh(3039) from the hadeeth of al-Bara'
ibn 'Aazib (may Allah be pleased with him) that after the battle Abu
Sufyaan ibn Harb startedcomposing rajz verse and saying: "Rise in
honour, Hubal; rise in honour Hubal."
The Prophet blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "Why don't
you answer him?"
They said: "O Messenger of Allah, what should wesay?"
He said: "Say: Allah is Most High and Most Glorious."
Abu Sufyaan said: We have al-'Uzza and you have no 'Uzza."
The Prophet blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "Why
don''t you answer him?"
They said: "O Messenger of Allah, what should wesay?"
He said: "Say: Allah is ourSupporter and you have no supporter!"
Allah, may He be exalted,has taught His slaves thattrue pride and
perfect honour can only be achieved by obeying Allah. Allah, may He be
exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Whosoever desires honour, power and glory then to Allaah belong all
honour, power and glory [and one can get honour, power and glory only
by obeying and worshipping Allaah (Alone)]. To Him ascend (all) the
goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it (i.e. the goodly words
are not accepted by Allaah unless and until they are followed by good
deeds), but those who plot evils, theirs will be severe torment. And
the plotting of such will perish"
[Faatir 35:10].
i.e., and whoever would like to be honoured in this world and the
Hereafter, let him adhere to obedience to Allah, then he will attain
what he wants, because Allah is the Sovereign of this world and the
Hereafter, and all honour, power and glory belong to Him, as He says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"Those who take disbelievers for Awliyaa' (protectors or helpers or
friends) instead of believers, do they seek honour, power and glory
with them? Verily, then to Allaah belongs all honour, power and glory"
[al-Nisa' 4:139]
"And let not their speechgrieve you (O Muhammad r), for all power and
honour belong to Allaah"
[Yoonus 10:65]
"But honour, power and glory belong to Allaah, and to His Messenger
(Muhammadصلى الله عليه وسلم(, and to the believers, but the hypocrites
know not"
[al-Munaafiqoon 63:8].
Mujaahid said: "Whosoever desires honour, power and glory" [al-Faatir
35:10] by worshipping idols, "then to Allaah belong all honour, power
andglory.
Qataadah said:"Whosoever desires honour, power and glory then to
Allaah belong all honour, power and glory"i.e., lethim seek honour,
powerand glory by obeying Allah, may He be glorified and exalted.
Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 6/536
Secondly:
With regard to a person feeling proud of himself,if it is because he
is religiously committed, righteous and pious, then it is good, but if
it isbecause of anything else, such as lineage, ancestry, wealth,
position or status amongpeople, then this is an act of Jaahiliyyah and
is not permissible.
Muslim (1550) narrated from Abu Maalik al-Ash'ari (may Allah be
pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be
upon him) said: "There are four matters of Jaahiliyyah in my ummah
that they will not give up: pride in one's forefathers, slandering
lineages, seeking rain by the stars and wailing (for the dead)."
Muslim (5109) also narrated from 'Iyaad ibnHimaar al-Mujaasha'i (may
Allah be pleased with that) that the Messenger of Allah (sa) said one
day in his khutbah: "Allah has revealed to me that you should be
humble so that no one will boast to anyone else and no one will
transgress against anyone else."
Al-Majd Ibn Tamiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Allah has
forbidden on the lips of His Prophet two types of mistreatment of
people: pride and transgression against them and scorn.
Fayd al-Qadeer, 2/217
The guideline with regard to this issue is: whatever is a source of
pride and honour because of religion is part of the religion and is
praiseworthy; any source of pride other than that is blameworthy.
But feeling proud because of doing acts of obedience and worship means
feeling happy that one has been enabled to do that and feeling proud
of belonging to people who do that, and praising Allah for saving him
from shirk and its people, and from sin andits path.
As for looking down on the slaves of Allah and feeling that one is
abovethem because of acts of obedience that one has done, this is the
worst type of pride and arrogance, and the one who is like this is on
the brink of disaster and there is a danger that hisdeeds will be
thrown back at him.
And Allah knows best.

Islam and Teamwork (Team Work): Islam and Leadership, Islam and Consultation

Almighty Allah (SWT) says in the Noble Qur'an: "Andhold fast all
together by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you) and be not
divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitudeAllah's favor on
you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in loveso that by
His grace ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit of
fire and He saved you from it. Thus doth Allah make his signs clearto
you: that ye may be guided." Noble Qur'an (3:103)
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: Faithful believers are to each other as
the bricks of a wall, supporting and reinforcing each other. So
saying, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) clasped his hands by interlocking
his fingers. [Sahih al-Bukhari]
In Islam, Allah (SWT) givesus the gift of brotherhood and sisterhood
and encourages us to do things in a group setting or Team Work.
Examples where Islam encourages team spirit are Juma prayers and Hajj
Pilgrimage. In fact, if we fail to work effectively as a member of
team, we fail to understand the true meaning of "Ummah(collectively
united Community)" in Islam.
Teamwork is defined in Webster's New World Dictionary as "a joint
action by a group of people, in which each person subordinates his or
her individual interests and opinions to the unity and efficiency of
the group." This does not mean that the individual is no longer
important; however, it does mean that effective and efficient teamwork
goes beyond individual accomplishments. The most effective teamwork is
produced when all the individuals involved harmonize their
contributions and work towards a common goal.
Lessons from Geese provide a perfect example of the importance of
teamwork and how it can have a profound and powerful effect on our
life. When we use these five principles in our personallife it will
help us to foster and encourage a level of passion and energy in
ourselves, as well as those who are our friends, associates or team
members.
It is essential to remember that teamwork happens whenit is
continually nurtured and encouraged.
Once a wise man said - Two people can accomplish more than twice as
much as one; they get a better return for their labor. As the old
saying goes, two heads are better than one.
Scientists have found that Geese flying in V formation can travel
around 71% further in a session than Geese flying solo (alone).
Working together on the task of flying is beneficial in a number of
ways:
Lesson 1 - The Importance of Achieving Common Goals
Aerodynamic Formation -The V formation of Geese is a way that
maximizes the energy expended by those flying as part of it. The bird
at the front of the flock breaks the air for those flying behind it
and creates a slipstream for them to be dragged along in. The birds
behind also help those in front as the upward motion of their wing
alsocreate an upward draft that propels them forward. This push/pull
relationship ensures all birds in the formation benefit from the work
of others.
Outcome: When we have a sense of "Ummah (collectively united
Community)" and focus, we create trust and can help each other to
achieve our common goals.
Lesson 2 - The Importance of Team Work (Teamwork)
When a goose leaves the formation, he feels the resistance of the air
and the difficulties of flying alone. Then, he quickly comes back to
the formation to take advantage of the flock's power in front of him.
Outcome: If we had as much sense as Geese we would stay in formation
with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their
help and give our help to others. Sharing the same direction and
working as a team, get usto the destination quicker and easier. By
helping ourselves, the accomplishments are greater.
Lesson 3 - The Importance of Sharing (Sharing Leadership)
Rotating Leadership - Even with the pushing effect of those behindit -
the front bird uses the most energy and becomes tired more quickly
than others. The Geese know that and instinctively rotate leadership
of the flock - allowing tired birds who have used a lot of energyfor
the sake of the flock to take a rest and be dragged a long for a while
until it is there nextturn up front.
Outcome: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks. We should respect
and protect each other's unique arrangement of skills, capabilities,
talents and resources.
Lesson 4 - The Importance of Empathy and Understanding
Dropping out of the Flock- as a result of sickness orinjury a bird
will occasionally begin to fall away from the flock - unable to keep
up. Instead of allowing this bird to fly on alone - at least two
others will always drop out of the flock with it. This ensuresthat the
injured bird will be defended and cared for until it is ready to
resume flying and that it will fly on with the benefit of flying in
formation.
Outcome: If we have as much sense as Geese we will stand by each
other. Let's stay beside each other no matter what thedifferences,
especially in times of difficulty and great challenges. If we bond
together and support each other, if wemake true the spirit of
teamwork, regardless of our differences, we can rise to meet our
challenge.
Lesson 5 - The Importance of Encouragement
Power of the Honk - Fromthe ground the V formation of the Geese is a
beautiful thing to watch - serenely gliding across the sky these
birdslook quite majestic and peaceful. However get upinto the flock
and you find it's quite a noisy affair with the Geese constantly
honking at one another. There are numerous theories aboutthis honking
and it could be partly about letting each other know where they are so
there is no midair collision. But many believe that this honking is
actually aboutcreating an environment of success and mutual
encouragement.
Geese flying in formation'Honk' to encourage those up front to keep
upwith their speed.
Outcome: We need to make sure our honking isencouraging. In groups and
teams where there isencouragement, production is much greater.
'Individual empowerment results from quality honking'.
As a result of some of these principles the Geese can fly amazing
distances without stopping for rest - so much further than if
theytried to do it alone. Humans, like Geese, werecreated to work
togetherand to support one another. When we encourage each other and
support our leaders we can accomplish amazing things, much more than
trying to workalone.

Secret to True Love: Meaning of True Love in Islam

I once had a friend who grew to be very close to me. Once when we were
sitting at the edge of a swimming pool, she filledthe palm of her hand
with some water and held it before me, and said this: "You see this
water carefully containedon my hand? It symbolizes Love."
This was how I saw it: As long as you keep your hand caringly open and
allow it to remain there, it will always be there. However, if you
attempt to close your fingers round it and try to possesit, it will
spill through thefirst cracks it finds.
This is the greatest mistake that people do when they meet love...
they try to posses it, they demand, they expect... and just like the
water spilling out of your hand,love will retrieve from you. For love
is meant to be free, you cannot change its nature. If there are people
you love, allow them to be free beings.
Give and don't expect. Advise, but don't order. Ask, but never demand.
It might sound simple, but it is a lesson that maytake a lifetime to
truly practice. It is the secret totrue love. To truly practice it,
you must sincerely feel no expectations from those who you love, and
yet an unconditional caring.
A good companion is not like the rain, which comes and goes. It's like
the air, sometimes very quite!
If you love something, setit free; if it comes back it's yours, if it
doesn't, it never was. Richard Bach

Man: The living machine

The human body, a totally separate world ofits own, resembles a living
"machine." Inside that machine there is equipment with a technology
far superior to any advanced technology outside, specialized elements
displaying consciousness, by the will of Allah, fully equipped
soldiers and many other systems. It is our Lord, Almighty Allah, Lord
of the Worlds, who creates this order in the systems in the body and
the sublime design visible at every point.
BRAIN / COMPUTER
Every nerve cell possesses special units for transmitting data. All by
itself, the brain is capable of performing the work of 4.5 million
transistors that permit the transmission of data by the microprocessor
ina good computer. This figure is very low compared to the 10 billion
nerve cells engaged in the electricalexchange of informationin the
brain. In addition, while the brain is able toperceive taste and smell
signals, there is as yet noproduct of industry capable of doing this.
MUSCLE AND BONE / CENTRAL HEATING-AIR CONDITIONING
The movement of the muscles warms the body in cold weather. In this
way the muscles are ableto provide 90% of body heat. Perspiration, on
the other hand, functions as an ideal cooling mechanism in the event
of overheating. These two complementary systems work to keep the body
temperature stable under all circumstances. This system works much
faster, and with much better results, than any central heating or air
conditioning system.
HORMONES / THE MAIL SYSTEM
Everything in the body isin a state of communication. Many messages
consist of hormones, made up of large molecules. There is no
destination address on the message packet carried by hormones, which
travel freely through the circulatory system and neurons. Yet,the
package still reaches its destination because the organs to open it
areequipped with special receptors to capture these messages.
KIDNEYS/ PURIFICATION FACILITIES
Thanks to up to a millionmini-filters known as nephrons, the human
kidney filters 140 liters of blood a day. Over the course of 80 years
around 1 deciliter a minute (one-tenth of a liter) is constantly
subjected to this filtration process. Processing facilities, used for
industrial wastes, have a greater capacity than that of kidneys.
However, their life spans are incomparably shorter. Moreover, the
structure of the substances being filtered is much simpler than that
of blood. The kidney has a far more complex and efficient system than
any filtration facility
THE HEART / PUMPING SYSTEMS
The heart starts beating while still in the mother's womb and works
non-stop at a rateof 70-200 beats a minutethroughout one's life. It
rests for at least half a second between beats. Itbeats approximately
10,000 times a day. At the time of resting, the heart of someone
weighing 60 kilos pumpsan average of 6.5 liters of blood. During one's
life time the heart pumps enough blood to fill 500 swimming pools with
a volume of 300 m3. Man-made pumping systems are unable to function as
efficiently without requiring any maintenance.
ARM / LEVER
The arm works like a lever. It uses the elbow as a fulcrum and
establishes movement bystretching and contracting the muscles. Levers
operate on the same principle. Yet, Levers have to show the same
effort no matter what weight is involved,whereas the arm muscles are
capable of adjusting their contraction accordingly.
EYE / CAMERA
The retina layer in the eye is the most light-sensitive of all known
materials. Different typesof light-perceiving cells are arranged so as
to provide the best image of the field of vision. Theeye also focuses
automatically and adjusts its sensitivity according to the intensity
of light outside.Such features make the eye far more superior to any
camera or photographic equipment in the world.
EAR / HI-FI
Hairy cells in the human inner ear convert vibrations in the air into
electrical signals, like a microphone. The ear only perceives sounds
between frequencies of 20-20,000 Hz. This range is the ideal specially
selected for human beings. If the human hearing range had been any
wider, we would be able to detect the footsteps of an ant walking on
the ground or the high-frequency sound waves in the atmosphere. Living
in such a constant state of noise would mean that human beings would
never enjoy neither peace nor comfort.
IMMUNE SYSTEM / ARMY
Our organisms are beingprotected by some 200 billion lymphocytes
(white blood corpuscles). These have intelligence systems, lethal
weapons and particular war strategies, similar to thatof soldiers.
Nevertheless,no army in the world is as accurate, flawless, and
successful as the immune system. (Harun Yahya, SIGNS OF GOD Design in
Nature)
CELL / ENGINE
In terms of fuel, the cell is a very economical engine. It burns small
molecules namely ATP as fuel. The efficiency it maintains in using
these molecules is greater than that of any engine. The cell also
performs various and highly complex functions whichtechnological
devices are not able to perform.

The background of suicide bombers who claim to act in the name of Islam

Following the World War II, the the psyche and minds of the people
living in Islamic countries in the the Middle East were affected by
the post war era and introduction of Communism . This new outlook,
which was in no way compatible with the tenets of Islam, was
stealthily changing the mindset of people on these lands that were
once shaped with the beautiful values of the Qur'an for centuries.
This also had its impact on the nascent political structures
gradually forming in the region.
Given this history, the dreadful state of Syria in our modern day
cannot be attributed to Islam. It is surely a legacy of the
communist ideology that was planted in those lands whose borders
were artificially created following the collapse of the Ottoman
Empire. In the absence of a ruling system predicated on Islamic
tenets like that of the Ottoman Empire, the countries that emerged
became vulnerable to ideologies that were either Western or
Eastern, (Communist Soviet Union and China), and did not value or
give importance to the ideas of love, brotherhood, and compassion,
or simply humane ideas.
Syria is just one example. When Hafez Assad came to power with the
Ba'ath Party in the 1960s, the state started to exert violence over
its own people. This type of harsh and cold rule by the Ba'ath party
became widely known in the world as the news of the horrible Hama
massacre dominated the international headlines of the press.
Syria was not the only country in the Middle East that was subjected
to the inhuman practices of the Ba'ath Party. The Party also became
influential in Egypt and Iraq. Meanwhile other Arab countries
including Iran silently came under the sway of communist China.
Another part of the Middle East whose roots were detached from
Islam and surrendered itself to communism was Palestine. The
al-Fatah movement that had grown in this country was not hiding the
ideology by which it was acting upon.
The conflicts and bloodshed that raged throughout the Middle East
were a result of communism coupled with Arab nationalism that
steadily intensified. Withn the regimes that identified with
communism and socialism, it is then not surprising that such
violent developments would take place, it is actually a part of the
normal course of events.
These countries - as systems and individuals – having gone through a
transformation to communism and socialism, and departed Islam still
kept their names as "Islamic Republics", and were thus always
identified with Islam. This being the case, all the crimes,
murders, mass killings perpetrated by these regimes and individuals
were always incorrectly attributed to Islam and Muslims.
A suicide bomber is a typical example. A suicide attack happening
in any corner of the world today is being identified incorrectly
with Islam and it is perceived by the West, especially those who
are unfamiliar with the tenets of Islam, as a practice encouraged
by the religion of Islam.
Islam, however, is a religion that gives the utmost value to human
life. It is a religion based upon humanity, love, compassion,
brotherhood, tolerance, justice, and peace. It treats the "human
being" as a very precious being. Communism, on the other hand, is a
savage system that in no way appreciates an individual as a human
being. It is founded on the tenets of Darwinism and the theory of
evolution, which incorrectly expounds social darwinism, namely that
the strong are eligible to survive while the weak are doomed to
perish. Thus one should not be surprised by the actions of
communists, since it is a system based on a cruel set of ideas.
Therefore communist regimes do not hesitate to kill people, even if
they are of their own nation, race or ethnicity. Indeed, killing
people is such an indispensable and inherent part of this system
that, committing suicide or taking part in suicide bombings,
becomes acceptable, while it is openly an outrageous act condemned
by God in the Qur'an.
According to Islam, suicide is an unlawful act no different from
killing another person. In other words, committing suicide equates
to murder. It is God Who gives life to a person and it is only He
Who can take back that life. A person does not have the right to
kill himself thinking that it is his own life and thus he can decide
when to put an end to that life. Therefore a person who is ready to
kill innocent children, women, that is anyone, together with
himself, openly acts against the provisions of the Qur'an and thus
can by no means be a Muslim. Such a person's mind and soul is
totally divorced from Islam and thus Islam cannot be held
accountable for such crimes.
As we have seen, individuals, communities and systems in the Middle
East of today have gone through a grand transformation. The norms
that shaped the behavior of the citizents of the Middle Eastern
countries aare no longer purely based on Islam. Communism,
socialism and other ideologies that are completely against Islam
have entered the equation and have been influencing them for a
quite long time. Since this is the root cause of radical and
extremist mindsets, one has to reflect and think deeply about the
underlying motivations for the behavior of radicals and extremists
in order to make a correct judgment, otherwise we would attribute a
false label on an entire religion.

About the rank and position of Holy Quran in the Islamic Traditions

Learning and teaching, reading and memorizing,planning and acting on
the contents, there are numerous traditions in the Sunni and Shiite
sources that its studying can display and manifest the importance and
greatness of the Heavenly book. These traditions have been compiled in
the books of traditions under the headings of "books of traditions",
the "book of the excellence of Holy Quran", and the "book ofthe Merits
of Holy Quran".The commentators of Holy Quran especially the
commentators living in the beginning of Islam have narrated these
traditions in their books. In addition to the above, some of the
earlier scholars have made efforts to write books under the heading
of"the book of the Fazl-ul-Quran or the book of Navader-ul-Quran."
Ofcourse, some of these writings could not be transferred to the other
periods. But, in the periods of recent scholars, the late Allama
Majlisi has allocated a part of the nineteenth volume of his
book"Bihar al-Anwar" to the Book of Holy Quran. This part has been
printed in the volumes 89 and 90. Besides, this point that this part
of the book of Bihar al-Anwar, like the other parts of this
magnificent treasure, notonly includes numerous writings of scholars
of the earlier centuries, but implicitly it contains many traditions
from Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw) and the Holy Imams(as). It is a very
useful reference.
Lastly, in the selection of the traditions of these writings, great
emphasis has been laid on selecting the short Quranic traditions. In
some cases, a part of the tradition has been mentioned from summary
viewpoint. We have refrained from mentioning the reference of the
traditionso that it will be easier toread or memorize them. But, those
interested for finding the references of every tradition can refer to
their sources.
01 - The superiority and excellence of the Holy Quran.
a) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw)said:
"The superiority and preference of the Holy Quran on all other books
and sayings is the same as the superiority of Almighty over His
creatures."
b) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"The Holy Quranis superior and excellent to everything other than
Almighty Allah (SWT)."
c) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"One who reads the Holy Quran, then he imagines that somebody (else)
has received better and superior than him, then most certainly he has
considered it insignificant the thing that is honorable and great
before the Almighty."
d) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"Whenever mischief and seditions surround you like a part of the
darkness of the night then (take refuge and) go towards the Holy
Quran."
e) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"The Holy Quran is a wealth that no wealth can equal (or reach) it.
And there will be no poverty after it."
02 - the Comprehensiveness and value of Holy Quran.
a) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"The Book of the Almighty comprises of the narratives and incidents of
the ancients; the news of the future ones; and the rules and
regulations amongst you.The Holy Quran was the measure and weight of
the truth and falsehood and it is not facetious and in vain."
b) Ameerul Momineen Ali (as)said:
"The Holy Quran is beautiful apparently and it is deep and profound
inwardly. Its wonder is everlasting and the curtains of darkness will
not be removed when refraining from it."
03 - Learning and teaching the Holy Quran.
a) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"The best of you are those who have learned the Holy Quran and teachto
the others".
b) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"One who teaches an Ayat of the Holy Quran, the Sawab (good deed) will
be earned and returned to them so long as the Ayat is being recited."
c) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"For the teacher of the Holy Quran, all the particles of the world
seek forgiveness and supplicate for him even the fishes of the
oceans."
d) Ameerul Momineen Ali (as) said:
"Learn and study (Holy) Quran. It is the best of the sayings. Peruse
and think and deliberate on it as it is the spring of thehearts."
e) Imam Jafar Sadiq (as)said:
"It is deserving and worthy of a believer that he should not depart
from this world but that he has learned the (Holy) Quran or is in the
path of learning it."
f) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"The (Holy) Quran is the (dining) table of the Almighty. Therefore,
utilize it and learn as far as possible."
04 - The Recitation of TheHoly Quran; Its Effect and Its Usefulness.
a) The best of the worships is the recitationof the (Holy) Quran. The
traditions that have beennarrated about reward and good deeds for the
recitation of the Holy Quran is considered as the best of worships. It
is important to mention that during the period ofHoly Prophet
Muhammad(saw); the learning of theword and meaning of the Holy Quran
was considered jointly. Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) recommended the
recitation of the Holy Quran along with understanding their meanings.
The conduct of Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) shows us that he would
teach ten Ayats of the Holy Quran to his companions and till the time
they would not learn and understand the practical rules and science of
the ten Ayats, he would not commence the next ten Ayats. Thus, the
reader ofthe Holy Quran was aware and well conversant of their
meanings.
b) Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said:
"The Quran is the covenant and programs the Almighty for His
creatures. It is deserving that every Muslim should look at this
divinely testament every day and recite fifty Ayats from them every
day."
c) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"One who recites ten Ayats of the (Holy) Quran during the night is
from amongst the negligent and the heedless. One who recites fifty
Ayats is from amongst the recites and commemorators. One who recites
hundredAyats is from amongst the humble and meek ones. One who recites
two hundred Ayats will be counted from amongst the one who fears the
Almighty and from amongst the specialones. One who recites three
hundred Ayats will be from amongst the delivered and saved ones. And
one who recites five hundred Ayats, he will be from amongst the
jurisprudents."
d) Ameerul Momineen Ali (as) said:
"In the day of Resurrection, it will be said to the reciter of the
Holy Quran (Qaari) that recite (The Holy Quran) and step above. Recite
as you have recited in the (previous) world. Your status and position
is up to the last Ayats that you have recited."
e) Ameerul Momineen Ali (as) said:
"One who recites the (Holy) Quran is like the one on whose heart has
been inserted the Prophet hood except that"Wahi" (revelations) have
not been revealed for him."
f) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said to Salman Mohammadi:
"O Salman! Upon you be about the recitation of the (Holy) Quran. Its
recitation is kaffarah (atonement) of sins."
g) Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said:
"One who recites the Holy Quran and he is a young believer, then his
body and blood will be blended and mixed with it."
H) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"Surely, these hearts are rusts like rusted irons. Surely (the thing)
which gives it luster and polish is the recitation of the (Holy)
Quran."
05 - The ways and the Manners of The Recitation of The Holy Quran.
a) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"Discharge (your duty towards the Holy) Quran in a good way and search
for its wonders and strangeness."
b) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"Recite the (Holy) Quran in the tone of the Arabs and with their
dialects and accents."
c) Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said:
"The (Holy) Quran has been revealed in a sad and sorrowful manner. So,
you also recite it humbly and sadly."
d) Ameerul Momineen Ali (as) said:
"During the recitation of the (Holy) Quran, express it in a good
manner. And do not hurry in it like as reciting the poems and do not
scatter it like the pebbles." But, install fear and alarm in your hard
hearts through it. Your efforts should not be thatyou should recite
and reach the end of the Ayat.
e) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"Learn the (Holy) Quran in Arabic. Refrain from adding an extra word
or alphabet in it."
06 - The Recitation Of TheHoly Quran in a beautiful and Melodious Tone.
a) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"For everything there is an adornment and a decoration. The adornment
of the (Holy) Quran is a beautiful voiceand tone."
b) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"Adorn and decorate the (Holy) Quran with your (good) voice."
c) It was asked from Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) that which of the
peoples voice in the recitation of the (Holy) Quran is better. He
said;"The voice of that person is better who while reciting the Holy
Quran and his recitation reaches you, you feel that he is feaful of
Allah."
d) Imam Ali al-Hadi (as)said:
" Ali ibn Hussein (Zainul Abedin)would recite the (Holy) Quran in
such a beautiful voice the passer byes who would pass from his house
would swoon and (would be overcome) by his voice."
e) Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said:
While interpreting the Ayat of the Holy Quran,"The meaning of this
Ayat is that one should recite the Holy Quran in a slow and pauseful
manner and make your voice beautiful with its recitation."
07 - Memorizing The Holy Quran and Its Effects.
a) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"The most honorable andnoble from amongst my Ummat are the memorizers
of the (Holy) Quran and those who (stay) awake (for worshipping)."
b) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"The carriers of the (Holy)Quran are those who are included and
covered by the Mercy of Allah."
c) Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said:
"Recite the (Holy) Quran and memorize it. Allah will not punish the
heart in which the Quran has been placed (in it)."
d) Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said:
"The memorizer of the Quran and the one who acts on it will be the
companions with the preferable divine ambassadors - the Angels."
e) And from amongst the Duas and supplications ofImam Jafar Sadiq (as):
"O Allah, select and approve for us two works: to recite the Quran in
a good manner and to memorize their Ayats."
f) Imam Musa Kazim (as)narrates from Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) who said:
"The carriers of the (Holy)Quran are the learned persons of the
inhabitants of the Heavens."
08 - The Recitation of TheHoly Quran While Looking At The Moshaf.
a) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"Looking at the Moshaf (Holy Quran) is (considered as) worship."
As per some traditions, Moshaf is a name, which has been ascribed to
the Holy Quran. This word has not come in the Holy Quran in this form,
but itsderivative of "Sohof" has been used in the Holy Quran on 8
occasions.
b) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"The recitation of the Holy Quran from the Moshaf (Book) is better
that its recitation from memory."
c) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"Nothing is more difficultand harder for the Shaitan than the
recitation of the Quran from the Moshaf (book)."
d) Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said:
"One who recites the Quran from the Moshaf (Book) then his eyes will
enjoy and profit (from itsgood deeds and blessings)."
09 - The Recitation Of TheHoly Quran And Contemplating And Deliberating On It.
a) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"Woe is upon the one who recites the divine Ayats, but dose not
contemplates and thinks about it."
b) Ameerul Momineen Ali (as) said:
"Beware, there is no good in recitation (of theHoly Quran) and not
deliberating and thinking on it."
c) Ameerul Momineen Ali (as) said:
"Learn the (Holy) Quran as it is the best of the speeches and think
and reflect on it as it is the spring of the hearts."
d) Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) while interpreting the Ayats of the Holy
Quran, the right to the recitationof the Quran is thinking and pause
over every Ayat, which propounds about the Heaven and the Hell.
10 - The Recitation of TheHoly Quran And Acting OnIt.
a) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"How numerous are the reciters of the Holy Quran, and the Holy Quran
curses them."
b) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"The one who does not consider the Haram (forbidden) acts of the Holy
Quran as Halal (permissible) does not believe and has no faith in the
Holy Quran."
c) The one who learns the Holy Quran and does not act on it, Allah
(SWT) will raise him as a blind (person) on the day of Resurrection."
d) Ameerul Momineen Ali (as) said:
"By Allah, pay attention to the Holy Quran. It should not be that
othersovertake and take precedence over you in acting and practicing
(onthe Quran)."
e) Imam Ali Reza (as)said:
"(Quran) is the word of Allah (SWT). Do not exceed and trespass
fromits boundary. Do not seekguidance other than from its shadow and
protection or you will be deviated and misguided."
f) Ameerul Momineen Ali (as) said:
"One who recites the (Holy Quran) and then enters the Hell, he is
fromthose who have ridiculedand mocked at the Ayats of the Holy
Quran."

Ramadan Articles, - Registering in the School of Righteous Generations

A noble guest is soon to arrive and a great season is to start -- the
month ofRamadan, which is a month praised in the Quran
andtheSunnah)Prophetic tradition(. It has many virtues; for example,
when it starts it is said:"O seeker of goodness, go ahead! O seeker of
evil; desist!"
TheUmmah)Muslim nation( has witnessed this month 1430 ]1[times and the
month that is upcoming is1431. Many generations have graduated fromits
school. It gives an opportunityfor serious people to change themselves
from wrong to right, from misguidance to guidance, from failure to
success, from defeat to victory and from every defect to every
perfection. This not only takes place only in one aspect of life;
rather, it occurs in many fields: religious, social,
economic,Jihad)struggle(, and others.
It is sufficient that during this month the Muslim overcomes thecalls
of the soul which is a persistent enjoiner of evil. By fasting, the
strong will of the Muslim wins over his base desiresin a way that he
savors its taste and feels its joy everyday at sunset. The Prophet,,
said:"There aretwooccasions of joy for one who fasts: one when he
breaks thefastand the other when he willmeethisLord."]Muslim[
For example, you may notice the sinning Muslim who is addicted to
drinking alcohol and nothing deters him from drinking day andnight;
but inRamadan, if someone were to compel him to drink a sip of lawful
pure water while he was fasting, he would be extremely antagonized!
Ramadanis a school that calls people to every virtuous manner, as
Allaah The Almighty Says)what means(:}O you who have believed, decreed
upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you
may become righteous{]Quran 2:183[
However, this chance is only for those who are sincere and serious.
The school ofRamadanisopening its doors for registration. This chance
may notbe available in the future. There are many people who hope to
witness tomorrow and do not witness it. There are many people who were
among the living in the morning and in the night they are among the
dead. There are many people who hopeto witnessRamadanbut they do not.
*.How are the "1,300,000,000" inRamadan?
One billion 300 million is the approximate number of Muslims nowadays.
They have the same ablution, the same way of praying, the same
fasting, and the sameHajj.
They worship One God: no one is truly worthy of worship but Him. They
submit to Him.
However, what about their feelings towards each other? What is their
concern with regard to supporting their religion? What are their
goals?
The answer is represented in the tragic suffering of Muslims in the
four corners of the world. Year after year, their suffering has become
even greater and the state of affairs has become even more turbulent
for the IslamicUmmah)Muslim nation( and its unity.
With the advent ofRamadan, themonth during which sublime virtues
become manifest and people benefit therefrom, you are invited to take
your share from this great bounty while you sit around the table
)ofRamadan( which Allaah The Almighty designated for the believing
people of the IslamicUmmah.
The most important thing to be adopted and followed is to achieve
brotherhood of faith among Muslims. Accordingly, they would support
each other, putting into action the verse in which Allaah The Almighty
Says)what means(:}The believing men and believing women are allies
ofone another.{]Quran 9:71[ And theHadeeth)narration( of the
Prophet,:"The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and
sympathy are just like one body; when one of the organs suffers, the
whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever."
Unity of faith is enhanced in the legislation of fasting as the
Prophet,said:"The start of the fast is the day you start and the end
of the fast is the day you end it, and the day of sacrifice is the day
you offer your sacrifice."]Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi and Ibn Maajah[
Commenting on thisHadeeth, At-Tirmithisaid,"Some scholars interpreted
this Hadeethsaying that it means that fasting and breaking the fast
should be with the community of Muslims and most people."
Contemplate, O Muslims, on the unity of faith which brings your hearts
together even though you are of different countries, languages and
colors. It is an unmatchable unity on the face of the earth. So, why
do we overlook and neglect it? Allaah The Almighty Says )what
means(:}And brought together their hearts. If you had spent all that
isin the earth, you could not have brought their hearts together; but
Allaah brought them together. Indeed, He is Exalted in Might and
Wise.{]Quran 8:63[
Why are people undutiful to theirparents?
Why do people sever their kinship ties?
Why do spouses quarrel and fight?
Why do neighbors desert each other?
Why are the bonds of brotherhood among Muslims untied?
The outcome of these misfortunes is that anUmmahof one billion three
hundred million lost its advantage and effectiveness and became as it
is mentioned in theHadeeth"you will be scum like that carried down by
a torrent."
O IslamicUmmah, why do we seek this humiliation and pantingbehind
other nations seeking glory and pride by imitating them? Why do we
forget the Quranic verse where Allaah The Almighty Says )what
means(:}This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed
My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.{]Quran
5:3[
What a great religion is Islam! Why do people neglect this great blessing?
*.Breaking the Fast inRamadanand "Globalization"
The Prophet,, said:"Religion will continue to be dominant as long as
people hasten to break the fast, because the Jews and the Christians
delay doing so."]Abu Daawood[
Contemplate this discrepancy anddistinction between the MuslimUmmahand
other nations even in the aspects of eating.
The purpose of instituting distinguishing features in theUmmahwas not
intended as an end in itself. Rather, it was legislated for a great
goal ofSharee'ah)Islamic legislation( that many people do not
observenowadays and take it lightly; namely, distinguishing
thisUmmahfrom other nations in order to be independent in every field
-- religious, social economic,political, moral, and so on.
The Jews, since the dawn of the Message of Muhammad,noticed this
matter and were extremely annoyed. They said,"This man does not want
to leaveanything we do without opposing us in it."]Narrated by Anas,
may Allaah be pleased witgh him, inSaheeh Muslim[
Is it appropriate, after all this, that some of our brothers and
sisters become affected by the claims of the naïve and respond to the
calls of globalization?
Globalization in which aspect?
They want globalization in economy, policy, ethics, and so on. They
even call for religious globalization in order to mix all religions
including the true religion of Allaah The Almighty, Islam. Then, they
impose a new world order or a new world religion or the so-called
unity of religions in accordance with deviant Western perceptions in
the same way that they corrupted their religions, and designed after
the pattern of the godless life they live.
The Quran and theSunnah)Prophetic tradition( are replete with texts
enhancing the distinction of the members of thisUmmah, males and
females alike, with their true religion; andthe generations of
theUmmahcomprehended this distinction well, which indicates its utmost
importance. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:
*.}O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as
allies. They are ]in fact[ allies of one another. And whoever is an
ally to them among you - then indeed, he is]one[ of them. Indeed,
Allaah guides not the wrongdoing people.{]Quran 5:51[
*.}And never will the Jews or theChristians approve of you until you
follow their religion. Say,"Indeed, the guidance of Allaah is the
]only[ guidance." If you were to follow their desires after what has
come to you of knowledge, you would have against Allaah no protector
or helper.{]Quran 2:120[
The Prophet,, said:"You will follow the ways of those who preceded you
inch by inch and cubit by cubit so that if they should go into the
hole of a mastigure, you will follow them into it." We said, "O
Messenger ofAllaah! Do you mean the Jews and the Christians?" He
replied,"Who else?""]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
He also said:"Whoever imitates a people, becomes one of them."]Ahmad
and Abu Daawood[ ]Jayyidchain of transmission[
The wholeUmmah, males and females, are asked to review their course of
life and the extentof their negligence towards this strategic issue in
order to regain their lost pride and honor.
]1[Until the time of writing theselines

Ramadan Articles, - The lost Ramadan

Ramadan is always equated in our minds with 29 or 30 days of
self-purification, sacrifice andpure devotion to Allaah. Even the
Muslim among us that would never bother about moon sighting, prayer in
the wee hours of the night and reading the whole Quran within four
weeks,gears up to embrace the spirit of this month.
Having spent the past Ramadan in the most beloved of lands to Allaah,
I felt utterly lucky to accept dates from a smiling sister who I had
never met and will probably never see again, and savor the loudAmeens
of my family of thousands of Muslims that the entire Al-Masjid
Al-Haraam )Sacred House in Makkah( resounded to.It was overwhelming to
observe hordes of peopleheading in one direction for Taraaweeh
)optional night prayers(. The Sacred House, ever the bustling place,
was full ofpeople breaking their fast, giving in charity, performing
'Umrah)Minor pilgrimage( and drinking Zamzam water. It has been a
supreme experience.
Yes, I am sure you know a 'but' is forthcoming. I hate to say what I
will, perhaps because I do notwish to taint the beauty of the month
that we have conjured up. But, even in Al-Masjid Al-Haraam, I could
not help but sadly wonder if Ramadan came and went, and we lost out.
For while I happily observed people flockingfor prayer, I also heard
people loudly fighting over a sitting place in theHouse of Allaah.
Instead of taking care of the Masjid like our own homes, it was often
left dirty as people failed to clean up after themselves. There was a
lot of generosity going around, but some of our Muslim brothers and
sisters are dying and suffering in many places around the world. There
was immense sharing, but rampant greed. Stores and hotels upped the
ante and doubled their asking prices.
Sure, all this gave a Makkan Ramadan a unique edge, no less, but I was
left wanting for thetrue spirit of Ramadan; offaith, unity and
patience,which brings about change within us that lasts more than just
one month.
Yet, every year, it is the same story in these sacred grounds, as well
as the rest of the Muslim world. What used to be a month of victory
since Islam came, has started to seem no different from our recent
history, with Muslim infighting, non-Muslims debasing our Prophetand
more failures. Rather than cherishing each moment of these invaluable
days, we cannot wait for 'Eed to don our new clothes. And instead of
fasting as a way of showing solidarity with the hungry, we plan
haute-cuisine Iftaars )fast-breaking meals(. Hearingof special Ramadan
TV shows and seasonal sales in shopping centers, it is difficult to
say if the corporations are more guilty or their clients.
The essence of Ramadan is becoming obscure; perhaps this is what the
Prophetimplied by saying:"Many a fasting person gains nothing from his
fasting but thirst, and many a personwho stands )in prayer( gets
nothing from his standing but wakefulness."]Ibn Maajah[
As always taught by scholars and in books and articles, Ramadan is not
just about the customary fasts and prayers; it is a month in which
Allaah has hidden a night which is better than a thousand months)in
virtue and reward(, sothat we make the effort every night to catch it.
Further, it is not about worshipping Allaah, The Most Exalted, and
practicing Islam only on one night or in one month, but Ramadan is
actually a catalyst for inner and outer change that lasts a lifetime,
for Allaah has no need for the one who fasts but does not leave evil
talk oraction. ]Al-Bukhaari[
Ramadan, in itself, is a month set above all by itsdistinctiveness as
days of fasting and nights of prayers, as actually practiced
everywhere. But, if we stay on our current path, not truly
appreciating the lessons of this month, by reducing it to a
conventional and commercialized holiday season, we may retain
itsgoodness, but risk losing the very spirit of Ramadan.

Ramadan Articles, - A Ramadan to remember

Nadia came home from school holding up a bound book proudly."Look what
I made," she said to her mother excitedly, waving her book back and
forth. Her mother glimpsed the title,My Best Memory.
As her mom flipped through it, she realized itwas about Ramadhan.
Pictures of masajid, people offering salah, and families breaking
their fast filled the pages.Nadia chattered excitedlyshowing her mom
the pictures and reading the words. "I told my class all about it,"
she said happily, adding, "They thought it was so cool."
"Ramadhan was months ago," said her mom, surprised. But as she looked
at her daughter's shining face, reliving her memories, she realized
that the spirit of Ramadhan was not forgotten by her 7-year old
daughter.
Every year, as Ramadhan approaches, families startgetting ready. They
stockup on food, make sure they have enough dates, and fast a couple
of days to "warm up." Everythingfrom these early preparations to the
very last rak'ah of Taraweeh isembedded in a child's mind. The spirit
of Ramadhan is so strong, that months and years later, children still
remember it, just as Nadia did.
And it is with the parent that the responsibility to make this month
memorable lies. It is up to you to make sure that you have made this
month special enough for your kids that they will always remember the
feel of Ramadhan. And it is also up to you tomake sure that they
understand what it is all about.
Ramadhan is about spirituality. It is about salah and fasting and
sacrifice and discipline. But to a child, it is also a month full of
happiness.
Ways to make Ramadan special
There are so many ways to make your child feel that Ramadhan is a
special month. Each family has its own traditions, and will have
specific ideas about how to spend the month. Some may wake up and have
an actual meal at suhoor. Others may read the Qur'an together every
morning. Some may attend Taraweeh salah every night. But here are some
general things that are sure to last with your children for their
entire life.
Taraweeh
Taking your children to the masjid is always important. But in
Ramadhan, the effect is twice as significant. When children see such
alarge number of Muslims surrounding them, all there for the same
purpose, they will sense that feeling of unity. It helps them
understand the concept of brotherhood and sisterhood. It is a time
forthem to learn to worship Allah, and it can also be atime for them
to have fun with other Muslim children. Parents can make deals with
their children, such as having them make a few rak'ahs, and then
letting them play or join the youth group activities. Obviously, this
has a stronger effect in bigger communities, but even the smaller ones
can make it work. And while this may be late at night, letting your
children stay up past their bed time a few times a week during this
month will not do much harm. Breaking therules once in a while
mayactually pay off.
Gatherings
As I mentioned earlier, Ramadhan is a time of unit. When you break
your fast together, it helps to affirm this feeling in children's
minds. Some nights can be just family gatherings,while others can
involve friends, or even the community as a whole. Inviting others to
your home to break fast not only brings you reward, but also creates
wonderful memories. Many masajid also hold community iftars a few
times a week. It is alwaysnice to show your children that we are one
Ummah, and these gatherings help them understand what it means.
Encourage fasting
Even young children can be encouraged to fast. Sometimes they can fast
on weekends, or fast halfof the day. However you decide to do it, it
helps children feel invoked, and strengthens their understanding of
what this month is all about. And as they fast, explain to them why
they are doing so. Let them know that you are happy with them, and
more importantly, that Allah is happy with them as well.
Ramadhan provides you the opportunity to teach your children about an
array of different topics. You can use the time right after iftar to
have a short lesson. Explain why we fast, read ayahs from the Qur'an
about Ramadhan, or tell them a little bit about the seerahof the
Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam. Teach them the importance of
self-discipline, and hat the meaning of an Ummah is. Show them the
countless blessings ofAllah upon us, and what it means to be thankful.
If you have a big community that offers a children's program during
Ramadhan, let them attend it. These lessons will also stay withthem
for life, Inshallah.
You can also go to your child's school, and tell his/her class about
Ramadhan. This will break the ice for your child, and may well makeit
easier for him/her to fast during the schooldays. It is an opportunity
to show your children that they can share their religious events and
holidays with others.
Muslim children need to feel the significance of Ramadhan, and
understand that we haveevents that are just as exciting as the
non-Muslim events they constantly hear about. In a time when Christmas
and Halloween and Easter are surrounded with such a fuss, it is
imperative that we show our children that they are not left out of
festivities. Islam gives them their own special events, which have
meaning as well as provide wonderful memories.
What I listed above are just a few things that willenhance the memory
of Ramadhan in a child's mind. Each family will follow old traditions
and create new ones as the years go on. It is not so much the
specifics as it is the overall atmosphere of the month. However, with
children, this atmosphere needs to be created early on, so that it can
be felt in their lateryears.

Ramadan Articles, - Laylat ul-Qadr: Peace Until Fajr

In each of the daily prayers we offer, we solemnly declare to
Allah,"Iyyaka na'budu"(You alone do we worship). While the intelligent
and committed believer realizes that his very lifestyle spells
worship, he knows, remembering the words of our Prophet(pbuh)
that"Du'aa' (supplication) is worship"[Tirmidhi, Abu Daud]
Allah, the Most Merciful, has encouraged the believers to take
advantage of certain times during the year to make du'aa'. Such an
occasion presents itself annually during Ramadan — especially onthe
Lailat-ul-Qadr, the Night of Power. On this night, the single most
important event in human history unfolded as, after the Glorious Quran
was preserved in the Protected Tablet, Jibril descended with the
blessed book to reveal it, upon Allah's command, toHis Messenger
(pbuh).
Accentuating its significance, Allah says"And how would you know (the
value of the) Night of Qadr."[97:2] So valuable is this Night of Qadr
that the Quran devotes a special surah toit."Lailatul Qadr is better
than a thousand months"[97:3] This one night surpasses the value of
30,000 nights.
The most authentic account of the occurrence of the Night indicates
that it can occuron any one of the last ten, odd numbered nights of
Ramadan. The fact that the exact night is unknown reflects Allah's
will in keeping it hidden. Indeed, the Prophet (pbuh) was prevented
from telling usits precise time. One day, he came out to tell the
companions the exact night. On the way he sawtwo men arguing with each
other. By the will of Allah, he (pbuh) forgot and subsequently
remembered it. Afterwards the Prophet (pbuh) was instructed not to
divulge this information."Had I been allowed,"he (pbuh) remarked
once,"I would have told you (of its exacttime)."[Ahmad]
The Almighty in His wisdom kept this hidden from us for many reasons.
Perhaps He wants us to strive hard inour worship during the last ten
days of Ramadan so that we don't become lazy, worshipping hard on just
that one night and denying ourselves the benefit of doing the same on
the other nights."Had people not left their salah except for that
(one) night, I would have informed you (of itsexact
date)."[Al-Tabarani]
The sincere believer who worries day and night about his sins and
phasesof neglect in his life patiently awaits the onset of Ramadan.
During it he hopes to be forgiven by Allah for past sins, knowing that
the Prophet (pbuh) promisedthat all who bear down during the last ten
days shall have all their sins forgiven. To achieve this, he remembers
the Prophet's (pbuh) advice in different sayings wherein he used words
like "seek", "pursue", "search", and "look hard"for Lailat-ul-Qadr.
Moreover, Allah and His Prophet (pbuh) provided us some signs of its
occurrence. Allah (swt) describes the night as"..peace until the rise
of the morn."[97:5] In various sayings, the Prophet (pbuh)
describedthe night as serene, tranquil, and peaceful. The sun at
sunrise would appear reddish and without its normal blazing and sharp
rays. The Prophet (pbuh) added that"the angels on earth on that night
of Qadr will be more numerous than all the pebbles of the earth."
What should one do during the last ten days in pursuit of Lailat-u-
Qadr? The devoted servant of Allah makes these nights alive with
prayer, reading and reflecting on Quran. He makes du'aa' to Allah,
penitently beseeching Him for His forgivness. Heis inspired by the
Prophet's (pbuh) words"Our Lord, most Exalted, Most high comes down
tothe lowest heaven duringthe last third of each night and announces
(reassuringly): Whoever makes du'aa', I shall answer it. Whoever asks
(for something halal) I shall grant it; and whoever seeks forgiveness,
I shall forgive him."[Bukhari] The believers, conscious of Allah and
their sins, will continue to beseech Allah, in and out of prayer,
during their prostrations. For a time, the only concern will be
cleansing oneself of the forgetfulness that this lifepropagates in
one's heart, the sins that accumulate, darkening the heart, making it
insensitive to disobeying Allah. The believer begs Allah to keep him
away from misfortunes in this world, the punishment ofthe grave, and
the torment of Hell. He asks Allah to make him patientand steadfast in
struggling to maintain his Islam in this world and asks Him to
overlook his shortcomings, periodsof laziness and neglect.
Sincere devotion on that night will render the believer forgtful of
the time, until he is surprisedby the Adhaan of Fajr. After Fajr, as
the sun creeps above the horizon, reddish and weak in its appearance,
without any rays, the effort at night will have been worthwhile. The
believer rejoices, knowing that this was quite possibly Lailat-ul-Qadr
and"whoever stays up (in prayer and remembrance of Allah) on the Night
of Qadr fullybelieving (in Allah's promise of reward for that night)
and hoping toseek reward (from Allah alone and not from people), he
shall be forgiven for his past sins."[Bukhari, Muslim]

Ramadan Articles, - Laylat-ul-Qadr

Laylat ul-Qadr is the most blessed night. A person who misses it has
indeed missed a great amount ofgood. If a believing person is zealous
to obey his Lord and increase the good deeds in his record,he should
strive to encounter this night and to pass it in worship and
obedience. If this is facilitated for him, all of his previous sins
will be forgiven.
Praying Qiyaam
It is recommended to make a long Qiyaam prayer during the nights on
which Laylat ul-Qadr could fall. This is indicated in many hadeeths,
such as the following:
Abu Tharr (radhiallahu `anhu) relates:
"We fasted with Allah's Messenger (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) in
Ramadaan. He did not lead us (in qiyaam) at all until there were seven
(nights of Ramadaan) left. Then he stood with us (that night - in
prayer)until one third of the night had passed. He did not pray with
us on the sixth. On the fifth night, he prayed with us until half of
the night had passed. So we said, 'Allah's Messenger! Wouldn't you
pray with us the whole night?' He replied:
'Whoever stands in prayer with the imaam until he (the imaam)
concludes the prayer, it isrecorded for him that he prayed the whole
night.'…" [Recorded by Ibn Abi Shaybah, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmithi (who
authenticated it), an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, at-Tahawi (in Sharhu Ma`an
il-Athar, Ibn Nasr, al-Faryabi, and al-Bayhaqi. Their isnad is
authentic.]
[Point of benefit: Abu Dawud mentioned: "I heard Ahmad being asked,
'Do you like for a man to pray with the people or by himself during
Ramadan?' He replied,'Pray with the people.'I also heard him say, 'I
would prefer for one to pray (qiyaam) with the imaam and to pray witr
with him as well, for the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam)
said:"When a man prays with the imaam until he concludes, it is
recorded that he prayed the rest ofthat night."[Masaa'il]]
Abu Hurayrah (radhiallahu `anhu) narrated that the Messenger
(sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said:
"Whoever stands (in qiyaam) in Laylat ul-Qadr [and it is facilitated
for him] out of faith and expectation (of Allah's reward), will have
all of his previous sins forgiven."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim; the
addition"and it is facilitated for him" is recorded by Ahmad from the
report of`Ubaadah Bin as-Samit; it means that he is permitted to be
among the sincere worshippers during that blessed night.]
Making Supplications
It is also recommended tomake extensive supplication on this night.
`A'ishah (radhiallahu `anha) reported that she asked Allah's Messenger
(sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam), "O Messenger of Allah! If I knew which
night is Laylat ul-Qadr, what should I say during it?" And he
instructed herto say:
"Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuh.ibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee - O Allah! You
are forgiving, and you love forgiveness.So forgive me." [Recorded by
Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and at-Tirmithi. Verified to be authentic by
Al-Albani]
Abandoning Worldly Pleasures for the Sake of Worship
It is further recommended to spend more time in worship during the
nights on which Laylat ul-Qadr is likely to be. This calls for
abandoning many worldly pleasures in order to secure the time and
thoughts solely for worshipping Allah.
`A'ishah (radhiallahu `anha) reported:
"When the (last) ten started, the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa
sallam) would tighten hisizaar (i.e. he stayed awayfrom his wives in
order to have more time for worship), spend the whole night awake (in
prayer), and wake up his family." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
And she said:
"Allah's Messenger (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) used to exert more
(in worship) on the last ten than on other nights." [Muslim]

Fathwa - Yes, Jinn mingle with Mankind

Question:
When we write or speak about the Jinn, do they hear us? And is there
anysupplication or words of seeking refuge which i should be said
after doing so?
Answer:
Yes, The Jinn mingle withmankind and hear their words, and they can
possess our bodies whenthey overpower us, as is proven by many
occurrences. But there are supplications and Verses and Surahs which
we can recite which are a means of protection tomankind from their
evil, such as Al-Mu'awwithatain, Ayat Al-Kursi and the like.