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Thursday, July 31, 2014

For children, - Importance of parents extract from Maulana Sadiq Hassan's speech(Disobedience to parents)



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It was a time when the outskirt of Makkah was not safe, full of robbers and thieves. An Indian prince, who carried his life savings (precious gem stones) in a pouch, had to leave Makkah. He had to leave his savings with someone otherwise he would be looted. Indian prince was told about an Iranian sheikh named Abdul Tahir Khorasani, who lived in Makkah, a very trustworthy and pious Momin (Believer in the Divine Laws). The Indian prince left his Amanat (safe custody) with the Iranian sheikh, Abdul Tahir Khorasani. When the Indian prince returned he found out that the Iranian sheikh, Abdul Tahir Khorasani had passed away. The Iranian sheikh, Abdul Tahir Khorasani's family members brought out a box and asked him if his Amanat was in it, however the Indian prince could not see his pouch. The Amanat was so valuable that the Iranian sheikh, Abdul Tahir Khorasani did not even trust his own family members with it and he kept its location secret. The Indian prince was upset, because the Amanat was his life savings.
The Indian prince then thought maybe it would be worth going to Wadi-e-Salaam in Najaf, Iraq, where the pious souls are sent to, he may see the Iranian sheikh, Abdul Tahir Khorasani and ask him about his Amanat. The Indian prince went to Najaf, Iraq, he would spend most of the day at Wadi-e-Salaam for three weeks but he did not meet the Iranian sheikh, Abdul Tahir Khorasani. One day a man from Najaf, Iraq chatted to him and suggested that maybe he should try Wadi-e-Barhoot in Yemen where souls are sent for punishment. The Indian prince reached Wadi-e-Barhoot, and called out for the Iranian sheikh, Abdul Tahir Khorasani. He saw a person coming towards him who was burned from head to toe. The Indian prince got scared and called for the Iranian sheikh, Abdul Tahir Khorasani again, the burnt person said I am Abdul Tahir Khorasani. The Indian prince was shocked and said you, such a pious Momin, why are you getting this harsh punishment?
The Iranian sheikh, Abdul Tahir Khorasani replied, after my death I got a message from Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) that the reward for all my good deeds is that on the day of judgement I would be raised with the prophets and my face would shine like the moon. However I have three sins which Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) will not forgive and that is why I am being punished. I was told that you loved the Holy Kaaba and doing worship (al-Ibada) so much that you migrated to Makkah, and you forgot your old parents who needed you? I replied that I used to send money every month for maintenance. But parents are those who want their children not their children's money.
The Iranian sheikh, Abdul Tahir Khorasani continued. Once in a gathering I insulted an Aalim. And once I gave Khums to a person who did not deserve it. These three sins Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) will not tolerate and will not forgive. The Iranian sheikh, Abdul Tahir Khorasani then told the Indian prince where his Amanat was hidden.
Moral:Today we live in a 'global village', where it takes seconds for news to reach from one end of the world to the other end. Yet how sad that people doesn't care and don't ask about their parents or relatives. So close yet so far. What is then the point of this 'global village'? This is a sin (Gunaah) that Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) will not forgive. So teach your children this message, not just through words but through your own actions. Teach them the value of parents through your actions.





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Menstruation and Post-Natal bleeding, - Dought& clear, - * If a woman makes a mistake about when she becomes pure followingmenstruation, is she sinning?



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If a woman does not get a white discharge, and instead she waits for the bleeding to stop, the number of days (of the period) may vary from one month to the next. Is she sinning if she makes a mistake about when she becomes pure, such as if she thinks that she became pure, then after doing ghusl and praying she finds traces of it or, conversely, if she waits and misses some prayers because she thinks that she has not yet become pure, because it is difficult for her to know when she becomes pure without that white discharge? May Allaah reward you with good.
Praise be to Allaah.
Menstruation differs from one woman to another, and the signs that one woman’s period has ended may vary from time to time.
For most women the sign that the period has ended is the emission of the white discharge. For some women the sign is that the bleeding stops.
No matter what the sign is for a woman, it is not permissible for her to hasten until the sign appears, because it is not permissible for her to pray or fast when she is menstruating, until she becomes pure.
The women used to send containers to ‘Aa’ishah in which were the cotton pads with traces of yellow on them. She would say: “Do not hasten until you see the white discharge.”
This was narrated by al-Bukhaari in a mu’allaq report inKitaab al-Hayd,Baab iqbaal al-maheed wa idbaarihi(Book of Menses, Chapter on the start and end of the menstrual flow); and by Maalik, 130
If a woman makes a mistake about the time of the end of her period, based on her own reasoning, then she is not sinning, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And there is no sin on you concerning that in which you made a mistake, except in regard to what your hearts deliberately intend”
[al-Ahzaab 33:5]
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah has forgiven my ummah for mistakes, what they forget and what they are forced to do. “ Narrated by Ibn Maajah, 2053; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani inSaheeh Ibn Maajah.
But if she thinks that she has become pure and she prays and fasts, then she realizes that she is still menstruating, then she has to stop praying and fasting until she becomes pure, and she should make up the obligatory fasts that she observed during that time, because it is now apparent that they were not valid, because the fast of a menstruating women is not valid.
If she stops praying because she thinks that she has not yet become pure, then she finds out that she was pure, then she has to make up those prayers.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked (11/280) about a woman who saw a brownish discharge before her usual period, so she stopped praying, then the blood came at the usual time. What is the ruling on that?
He replied: Umm ‘Atiyyah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “We used to not regard the yellowish and brownish discharge after the tuhr (white discharge indicating that the period is over) as being of any significance.” Based on this, this brownish discharge that comes before the period does not seem to me to be part of the period, especially since it came before the usual time of menstruation and there were no other signs of menstruation such as cramps, backache, etc. So it is better for her to make up the prayers that she missed during this time.
He was also asked (11/275) about a woman who bled for nine days, so she did not pray, thinking that this was her period. Then a few days later her real period came – what should she do: should she make up the prayers of the days she missed or what?
He replied: it is better for her to make up the prayers that she missed during the first days, but if she does not do that there is no sin on her, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not command the woman who was suffering from severe istihaadah (non-menstrual vaginal bleeding) and had stopped praying because of that, to do so. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told her to regard six or seven days as her period and to pray during the rest of the month; he did not tell her to repeat the prayers she had missed, even though making up the prayers she had missed would have been good, because she may have been negligent in not asking before, but even though she did not repeat them there was no sin on her.
And Allaah knows best.





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Menstruation and Post-Natal bleeding, - Dought& clear, - * Is it permissible fora menstruatingwoman to write Qur’aanicverses?



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I like to if a woman is allowed to write Sura in Arabic during mentural cycle.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
It is permissible for a menstruating woman, and also a woman who is bleeding following childbirth (nifaas) to recite Qur’aan without touching it. For more information please see the answer to question no. 2564.
Secondly:
It is permissible for a menstruating woman, and also a woman who is bleeding following childbirth (nifaas) to write Qur’aanic verses, on the condition that she does not touch the letters, because the prohibition only has to do with touching the Mushaf, and writing is not touching.
It says inal-Jawharah al-Nayyirah, which is a Hanafi book (1/31):
It is makrooh for a person who is junub or a menstruating woman to write down Qur’aan if he or she touches the slate or chalk. But if he or she places it on the ground and writes without putting his or her hand on the written letters, it was nothing wrong with that. End quote.
It is permissible for one who is in a state of impurity, or even a dhimmi, to write it without touching it because the prohibition, as stated above, applies to touching it, and this is not touching.
End quote fromKashshaaf al-Qinaa‘, 1/135
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked:
We are female students in the girls’ college and we have to memorise some Qur’aan. Sometimes the tests come during one’s menstrual period. Is it acceptable to write the soorah on a piece of paper and memorise it or not?
He replied:
It is permissible for the woman who is menstruating or bleeding following childbirth to recite Qur’aan according to the more correct of the two scholarly opinions… The same applies to the piece of paper on which Qur’aan is written if necessary.
End quote fromMajmoo‘ Fataawa Ibn Baaz, 10/209
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked: Is it permissible to write some verses on the chalkboard without having wudoo’? What is the ruling on touching the chalkboard on which those verses are written?
He replied:
It is permissible to write Qur’aan without wudoo’ so long as one does not touch it. As for touching the chalkboard on which those verses are written, the Hanbali fuqaha’ say it is permissible for a boy to touch the slate on which verses have been written in the places that are free of writing, i.e., so long as his hand does not touch the letters – does the chalkboard come under this heading or not? In my view this is a matter for which there is no definite answer.
End quote fromFataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 11/214
And Allah knows best.




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Menstruation and Post-Natal bleeding, - Dought& clear, - * She bled after having an injection for temporary contraception; what should she do?



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I have a female relative who is married; she is thirty years old, has diabetes and high blood pressure and she had a stroke last year that affected her health in general. Then she had an injection that would provide contraception for three months. Before that time ended, she started to bleed, a light flow that lasted from before Ramadan until after Ramadan ended, and she continued to pray and fast. She also told me that now she has made up 16 days. What is the ruling on this injection in her case? Should she make up the prayers or the fasts, or what should she do? What is the ruling on her situation in general?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
It is permissible for a woman to use means of contraception on a temporary basis, to safeguard her health if she is unable to bear pregnancy.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
It is permissible to use temporary methods of contraception for legitimate shar‘i reasons. End quote.
Majmoo‘ Fataawa Ibn Baaz, 9/434
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan said:
If this spacing or delay of pregnancy is for health reasons affecting the woman, such as if she cannot bear pregnancy and childbirth due to some special reason or circumstances, such as sickness, then there is no reason why she should not be given something that will prevent pregnancy occurring until the situation that makes it too hard for her to get pregnant and give birth changes. End quote.
Al-Muntaqa min Fataawa al-Fawzaan, 89/20
Secondly:
This woman is mustahaadah (experiencing abnormal bleeding). If her previous menstrual cycle is known, then she should refrain from fasting and praying during the days of her usual period, then when that time ends she should do ghusl and resume fasting and praying.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about a woman who bleeds a lot; how should she pray and when should she fast?
He replied:
In a case such as this, when a woman bleeds a lot, the ruling is that she should stop praying and fasting during the days of her period according to her previous cycle before this problem affected her. If her period used to come at the beginning of every month for six days, for example, then she should stop praying and fasting for six days at the beginning of every month; when that time ends she should do ghusl and start to pray and fast again.
How this woman and others like her should pray is as follows:
She should wash her private part thoroughly and put a pad or sanitary towel, then do wudoo’. She should do that when the time for each obligatory prayer begins; she should not do that before the time begins, rather she should do it after the time begins, then pray. She should also do that if she wants to offer naafil prayers at times other than the obligatory prayers. In that case, so as to avoid hardship, it is permissible for her to put Zuhr together with ‘Asr, and Maghrib with ‘Isha’, at the time of the earlier or later prayer, so that she only has to do this once for two prayers in the case of Zuhr and ‘Asr, then Maghrib and ‘Isha’, and for Fajr. So instead of doing it five times a day, she only has to do it three times. End quote.
Majmoo‘ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 11/220
Thirdly:
You said that she used to pray and fast during the time when she was bleeding. The prayers offered during the time of her usual period are not valid, but she does not have to make them up, because a woman who menstruates does not have to make up prayers.
With regard to fasting, it is not valid during the days of the menstrual period and she has to make them up. She has made up sixteen days; if these were the days of her period or more, then she has done what is required of her and she does not have to do anything more than that. But if the days of her period were longer than that, she should make up what still remains.
And Allah knows best.





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Welcome to Islam, - * Was Muhammad a true prophet



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Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, the son of `Abdullaah, is Allaah's Prophet and the Final Messenger sent by Allaah to the inhabitants of the earth. You should know that he sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, is Allaah's Messenger in reality and truth. The evidences that show his veracity are abundant. None but an infidel, who out of arrogance alone, could deny these signs.
Among these proofs:
1. Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was raised illiterate, unable to read or write, and remained like that till his death. Among all his people, he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was known as being truthful and trustworthy. Before receiving revelation, he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, had no prior knowledge of religion or any previously sent Message. He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, remained like that for his first forty years. Revelation then came to Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, with the Quran that we now have between our hands. This Quran mentioned most of the accounts found in the previous scriptures, telling us about these events in the greatest detail as if he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, witnessed them. These accounts came precisely as they were found in the Torah sent down to Moses, may Allaah exalt his mention, and in the Gospel sent down to Jesus, may Allaah exalt his mention. Never the less, neither the Jews nor the Christians believed anything that he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said.
2. Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, also foretold of everything that would occur to him and his community after him, pertaining to victory, the removal of the tyrannical kingdoms of Chosroes ]the royal title for the Zoroastrian kings of Persia[ and Caesar, and the establishment of the religion of Islam throughout the earth. These events occurred exactly as Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, foretold, as if he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was reading the future from an open book.
3. Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, also conveyed an Arabic Quran that is the peak of eloquence and clarity. The Quran challenged those eloquent and fluent Arabs of his time, who initially belied him, to bring forth a single chapter like the Quran. The eloquent Arabs of his day were unable to contest this Quran. Indeed, till our day, none has ever dared to claim that he has been able to compose words that equal-or even approach-the order, grace, beauty and splendor of this Glorious Quran.
4. The life history of this Noble Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was a perfect example of being upright, merciful, compassionate, truthful, brave, generous, distant from all evil character, and ascetic in all worldly matters, while striving solely for the reward of the Hereafter. Moreover, in all his actions and dealings, he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was ever mindful and fearful of Allaah.
5. Allaah instilled great love for Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, in the hearts of all who believed in and met him, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. This love reached such a degree that any of his companions would willingly sacrifice his )or her( self, mother or father for him, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. Till today, those who believe in Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, honor and love him. Anyone of those who believe in him would ransom his own family and wealth to see him, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, even if but once.
6. All of history has not preserved the biography of any person in the manner it has preserved the life of Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, who is the most influential human in history. Nor has the entire earth known of anyone whom every morning and evening, and many times thereafter throughout the day, is thought of by those who believe in him. Upon remembering Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, the believers in him will greet him and ask Allaah to bless him, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam and exalt his status. They do such with full hearts and true love for him, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam.
7. Nor has there every been a man on earth whom is still followed in all his doings by those who believe in him, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. Those who believe in Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, sleep in the manner he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, slept; purify themselves )through ablution and ritual washing( in the manner he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, purified himself; and adhere to his practice in the way they eat, drink, and clothe themselves.
Indeed in all aspects of their lives, the believers in Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, adhere to the teachings he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, spread among them and the path that he traveled upon during his life. During every generation, from his day till our time, the believers in this Noble Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, have fully adhered to his teachings. With some, this has reached the degree that they desire to follow and adhere to the Prophet's way in his, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, personal matters regarding which Allaah has not sought of them to adhere to in worship. For example, some will only eat those specific foods or only wear those specific garments that the Messenger, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, liked.
Let alone all that, all those who believe in Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, repeat those praises of Allaah, special prayers, and invocations that he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, would say during each of his actions during day and night, like: what he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, would say when he greeted people, upon entering and leaving the house, entering and leaving the mosque, entering and leaving the bathroom, going to sleep and awaking from sleep, observing the new crescent, observing the new fruit on trees, eating, drinking, dressing, riding, traveling and returning from travel, etc.
Moreover, all those who believe in Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, fully perform - even to the minute detail - every act of worship, like prayer, fasting, charity, and pilgrimage, as this Noble Messenger, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, taught and as he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, himself performed. All of this allows those who believe in him, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, to live their lives in all aspects with this Noble Messenger, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, as their example, as if he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was standing before them, for them to follow in all their doings.
8. There has never been, nor will there ever be, a man anywhere upon this earth who has received such love, respect, honor, and obedience in all matters, small and large alike, as has this Noble Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam.
9. Since his days, in every region of the earth and during every period, this Noble Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, has been followed by individuals from all nations, colors and peoples. Many of those who followed him were previously Christians, Jews, pagans, idolaters, or without any religion. Among those who chose to follow him, were those who were known for their sound judgment, wisdom, reflection, and foresight. They chose to follow this Noble Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, after they witnessed the signs of his truthfulness and the evidences of his miracles. They did not choose to follow Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, out of compulsion or coercion or because they had adopted the ways of their fathers and mothers.
Indeed many of the followers of this Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, chose to follow him during the time when Islam was weak, when there were few Muslims, and when there was severe persecution of his followers on earth. People who have followed this Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, have not done so to acquire some material benefits. Indeed many of his followers have suffered the greatest forms of harm and persecution as a result of following him. Despite all this harm and persecution, this did not turn them back from his religion. All of this clearly indicates, to anyone possessing any sense, that this Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was truly and really Allaah's messenger and that he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was not just a man who claimed prophethood or spoke about Allaah without knowledge.
9. With all this, Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, came with a great religion in its creedal and legal make-up. Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, described Allaah with qualities of complete perfection, and at the same time in a manner that is free of ascribing to Him any imperfection. Neither the philosophers or the wise could ever describe Allaah like such. Indeed it is impossible to imagine that any human mind could conceive of an existing being that possesses such complete ability and greatness Who has subdued the creation, Who has encompassed everything in the universe, small or large, and Who possesses such perfect mercy. Nor is it in the ability of any human being to place a perfect law based upon justice, equality, mercy and objectivity for all human activity on earth like the laws that Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, conveyed to all spheres of human activity - like buying and selling, marriage and divorce, renting, testimony, custody, and all other contracts that are necessary to uphold life and civilization on earth.
10. It is impossible that any person conceive wisdom, morals, good manners, nobleness of characters as what this honorable Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam,brought. In a full and complete manner, Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, spread a teaching regarding character and manners toward one's parents, relatives, fiends, family, humanity, animals, plants and inanimate objects. It is impossible for the human mind alone to grasp all of that teaching or come with a similar teaching. All of that unequivocally indicates that this Messenger, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, did not bring any of this religion from his own accord, but that it was rather a teaching and inspiration that he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, received from The One Who created the earth and the high heavens above and created this universe in its miraculous architecture and perfection.
12. The legal and creedal make-up of the religion that the Messenger Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, brought resembles the engineering of the heavens and the earth. All of that indicates that He Who created the heavens and the earth is The One Who sent down this great law and upright religion. The degree of inimitability of the Divine law that was sent down upon Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, is to the same degree of inimitability of the Divine creation of the heavens and the earth. For just as humanity cannot create this universe, in the same manner humanity cannot bring forth a law like Allaah's law that He sent down upon His servant and messenger Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam.





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Welcome to Islam, - * You should know this man



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You may be an atheist or an agnostic; or you may belong to any of the religious denominations that exist in the world today.
You may be a Communist or a believer in democracy and freedom.
No matter who you are, and no matter what your ideological and political beliefs, personal and social habits happen to be.
You must still know this man.
Encyclopedia Brittanica, confirms:“…a mass of detail in the early sources shows that he was an honest and upright man who had gained the respect and loyalty of others who were likewise honest and upright men.”)Vol. 12(.
Bernard Shaw said about him: “He must be called the Savior of Humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it much-needed peace and happiness”. )The Genuine Islam, Singapore, Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936(.
He was by far the most remarkable man that ever set foot on this earth. He preached a religion, founded a State, built a nation, laid down a moral code, initiated numerous social and political reforms, established a powerful and dynamic society to practice and represent his teachings and completely revolutionized the worlds of human thought and behavior for all times to come.
His name is Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, )may Allaah exalt his mention(.
Born in Arabia in the year 570 CE, he started his mission of preaching the religion of Truth, Islam )submission to One God( at the age of forty and departed from this world when he was sixty-three.
During this short period of 23 years of his prophethood, he changed the entire Arabian peninsula from paganism and idolatry to the worship of One God; from tribal quarrels and wars to national solidarity and cohesion; from drunkenness and wickedness to sobriety and piety; from lawlessness and anarchy to disciplined living; from utter bankruptcy to the highest standards of moral excellence. Human history has never known such a complete transformation of people or a place before or since – and imagine all these unbelievable wonders took placein just over two decades.
La Martine, the renowned historian, speaking onThe Essentials or Human Greatness, said: “If greatness of purpose, smallness of means and astounding results are the three criteria of human genius, who could dare to compare any great man in modern history with Muhammad? The most famous men created arms, laws and empires only. They founded, if anything at all, no more than material powers which often crumbled away before their eyes. This man moved not only armies, legislations, empires, peoples and dynasties, but millions of men in one-third of the )then(inhabited world; and more than that, he moved the altars, the gods, the religions, the ideas, the beliefs and souls … his forbearance in victory, his ambition, which was entirely devoted to one idea and in no manner striving for an empire; his endless prayers, his mystic conversations with God, his death and his triumph after death -- all these attest not to an impostor, but to a firm conviction which gave him the power to restore a dogma. This dogma was twofold, the unity of God and the immateriality of God; the former telling what God is, and the latter telling what God is not; the one overthrowing false gods with the sword, the other starting an idea with the words.
Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas, of a cult without images, the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire, that is Muhammad. As regards all the standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?”
)La Martine,Historic de la Turquie, Paris, 1854, Vol.II, pp. 276-277(.
The world has had its share of great personalities. However, these were one-sided figures who distinguished themselves in one or two fields, such as religious thought or military leadership. The lives and teachings of these great personalities of the world are shrouded in the mist of time. There is so much speculation about the time and place of their birth, the mode and style of their life, the nature and detail of their teachings and the degree and measure of their success or failure that it is impossible for humanity to reconstruct accurately the lives and teachings of these men.
Not so this man. Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,accomplished so much in such diverse fields of human thought and behavior in the fullest blaze of human history. Every detail of his private life and public utterances has been accurately documented and faithfully preserved to our day. The authenticity of the records so preserved is vouched for not only by the faithful followers, but also by his prejudiced critics.
Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,was a religious teacher, a social reformer, a moral guide, an administrative colossus, a faithful friend, a wonderful companion, a devoted husband, a loving father – all in one. No other man in history ever excelled or equaled him in any of these different aspects of life – but it was only for the selfless personality of Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,to achieve such incredible perfection.
Mahatma Gandhi, speaking on the character of Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, says inYoung India;
“I wanted to know the best of one who holds today undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind… I became more than convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle.
When I closed the 2nd volume )of the Prophet’s biography(, I was sorry there was not more for me to read of the great life”.
Thomas Carlyle, in hisHeroes and Hero-Worship, was simply amazed as to: “How one man single handedly, could weld warring tribes and wandering Bedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation.”
Diwan Chand Sharma wrote: “Muhammad was the soul of kindness, and his influence was felt and never forgotten by those around him.” )D. C. Sharma,‘The Prophets of the East’, Calcutta, 1935, pp. 12(.
Speaking on the aspect of equality before God in Islam, the famous poetess of India, Sarojini Naidu says:
“It was the first religion that preached and practiced democracy; for, in the mosque, when the call for prayer is sounded and worshippers are gathered together, the democracy of Islam is embodied five times a day when the peasant and king kneel side by side and proclaim: God Alone is Great.
I have been struck over again by this indivisible unity of Islam that makes man instinctively a brother.” )S. Naidu,Ideals of Islam, vide Speeches & Writings, Madras, 1918, P. 169(.
The world has not hesitated to raise to divinity, individuals whose lives and missions have been lost in legend. Historically, none of these legends achieved even a fraction of what Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,accomplished. And all his striving was for the sole purpose of uniting humanity for the worship of One God on the codes of moral excellence. Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, or his followers never at any time claimed that he was a Son of God or God-incarnate – but he always was and is even today considered as only a Messenger chosen by God.
Michael H. Hart in his recently published book on ratings of men who contributed towards the benefit and upliftment of man writes: “My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world’s most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels”. )M.H. Hart,‘The 100: A ranking of the most influential persons in History’, New York, 1978 pp.33(.
Today after a lapse of fourteen centuries, the life and teachings of Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, have survived without the slightest loss, alteration or interpolation. They offer the same undying hope for treating humankind’s many ills, which they did when he was alive. This is not a claim of the followers of Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, but also the inescapable conclusion forced upon by a critical and unbiased history.
The least you could know as a thinking and concerned human being is to stop for a moment and ask yourself: Could these statements sounding so extraordinary and revolutionary be really true? And supposing they really are true and you did not know this man Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, or hear about him, isn’t it time you respond to this tremendous challenge and put in some effort to know him?
It will cost you nothing but it may prove to be the beginning of a completely new era in your life.
We invite you to make a discovery of this wonderful man, Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, the like of whom never walked on the face of this earth.



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Dought & clear, - {Islamic history and biography}, - - Discussion of numerical miracles in the Qur’aan and use of the solarcalendar



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I read some 'miracles' of the qur'an recently. These included many things such as the 3 stages of embryos, the orbits of planets, etc etc. However, one of them claimed that the word yawm (day) is mentioned 365 times in the qur'an, and the word qamar is mentioned 12 times in the quraan. I forget how many times the word ayyaam is mentioned. However, a friend pointed out that the islamic calender does not have 365 days in it. What does this mean about the islamic calender? That it is wrong? Or that God knew that most of the world would use the Gregorian calender and that this is a sign that it is the correct one?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
Many people are infatuated by the different types of miracles in the Qur’aan, including the “numerical miracles”. In newspapers and magazines and on the internet they publish lists of words that are repeated a number of times that corresponds to their structure, and words that are repeated the same number of times as their opposites. They also claim that the word yawm (day) is repeated 365 times and the word shahr (month) is repeated 12 times, and they do this with other words too, such as al-malaa’ikah (angels) and al-shayaateen (devils), and al-dunya (this world) and al-aakhirah (the Hereafter), etc.
Many people think that these numbers are true and that this is one of the miracles of the Qur’aan, but they do not distinguish between subtleties and miracles. Writing a book which contains a specific number of certain words is something that anyone can do; what is so miraculous about that? The miracle that appears in the Book of Allaah is not like these subtleties, rather it is far deeper and greater than that. It is the fact that the most eloquent and well-spoken of the Arabs could not produce anything like the Qur’aan, or ten soorahs of it, or even one soorah. It is not like these subtleties that any writer could produce in any book that he writes, or more.
It should be noted that some people have taken this beyond mere statistics. Some of them have used these numbers to foretell when the state of Israel will fall, and others have used them to say when the Day of Judgement will be. One of the latest fabrications against the Book of Allaah is that which they have published saying that the Qur’aan foretold the explosions in the towers in New York! Based on the number of the verse in al-Tawbah, and the number of the soorah and juz’. All of that is toying with the Book of Allaah which is caused by ignorance of the true nature of the miracle of the Book of Allaah.
Secondly:
By examining the statistics presented by those who have published these numbers, we find that they did not get the numbers of some phrases right, and some of them have been selective in the way they counted the words, and that is so that they might reach the conclusion they want and that they think is in the Book of Allaah.
Shaykh Dr. Khaalid al-Sabt said:
Dr. Ashraf ‘Abd al-Razzaaq Qatanah presented a “study of the numerical miracles in the Holy Qur’aan” which he published in a book entitled: “The Qur’aan and the Numerical Miracles, a critical study of the numerical miracles of the Holy Qur’aan.” In the conclusion to this book he reviews three other books: (1)I’jaaz al-Raqm 19(The miracle of the number 19) by Baasim Jaraar; (2)al-I’jaaz al-‘Adadi fi’l-Qur’aan(the numerical miracle in the Qur’aan) by ‘Abd al-Razzaaq Nawfal; and (3)al-Mu’jizah(the miracle) by ‘Adnaan al-Rifaa’i. The author reached a conclusion which he describes as follows:
As the result of my study I reached the idea that the “numerical miracle” as presented in these books is not real at all, and these books are based on conditions that are sometimes selective , in order to prove the validity of this view in a way that will make the reader accept these preconceived results referred to above. These selective conditions sometimes lead the author to go against that which is proven according to the consensus of the ummah, such as going against the spelling of the ‘Uthmaani Mus-haf, which is not permissible at all; or adopting the spelling of some words which appears in some Mus-hafs and without paying attention to the spellings in other Mus-hafs. It also goes against basic principles of the Arabic language with regard to synonyms and antonyms.
p. 197, Damascus, Manaar li’l-Nashr wa’l-Tawzee’, first edition, 1420 AH/1999 CE.
Dr. Fahd al-Roomi said something similar about the selective way in which Dr ‘Abd al-Razzaaq Nawfal chose words in order to reach this numerical balance, such as when he said: The word yawm (day) is mentioned 365 times in the Qur’aan, the number of days in a year. In order to prove this he counted the words “al-yawm” and “yawman” but he ignored words such as “yawmukum” (your day) and “yawmuhum” (their day) andyawma’idhin(on that day), because if he had done that, he would have got a different number. The same applies to the wordal-isti’aadhahwhich refers to seeking refuge from the shaytaan. He says that it is repeated 11 times, but he includes in that the words “a’oodhu” (I seek refuge) and “fasta’idh” (seek refuge) but not “ ‘udhtu” (I sought refuge) or “ya’oodhoona” (they seek refuge) or “u’eedhuha” (I seek refuge for her) or “ma’aadh Allaah” (Allaah forbid).
See:Ittijaahaat al-Tafseer fi’l-Qarn al-Raabi’ ‘Ashara(2/699, 700), Beirut, Mu’sasat al-Risaalah, second edition, 1414 AH.
From this well-founded discussion, the answer to the issue of the word “yawm” and the number of times it appears in the Qur’aan, which is mentioned in the question, is clear.
Thirdly:
With regard to the count (of time) (al-hisaab, mentioned in Yoonus 10:5) that Allaah has mentioned in His holy Book, it is the precise count (of time) that does not differ as the years pass, which is the lunar count (of time).
With regard to the verse (interpretation of the meaning):
“And they stayed in their Cave three hundred years, adding nine”
[al-Kahf 18:25],
some of the scholars have stated that the number 300 refers to solar years, and that the number 309 refers to lunar years. This view was refuted by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen, who explained in his refutation that the count (of time) with Allaah is lunar, not solar.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
“adding nine” means that they added nine years to three hundred, so they stayed there for three hundred and nine years. It may be said: Why doesn’t it just say three hundred and nine?
The answer is that this is what is meant, but the Qur’aan is the most eloquent of books, and in order for the ends of the verses to match (in Arabic) it says:“And they stayed in their Cave three hundred (solar) years, adding nine (for lunar years)”. It is not as some people think, that the three hundred refers to solar years and the nine was added for lunar years, because we cannot testify that Allaah meant that. Who can testify that this is what Allaah meant? Even if it so happens that three hundred solar years are equal to three hundred and nine lunar years, we cannot testify about Allaah in this way, because the count (of time) with Allaah is one.
What are the signs by which the count (of time) is reckoned with Allaah?
The answer is that they are the new moons; hence we say that the view that “three hundred years” refers to solar years and “adding nine” refers to lunar years, is a weak view.
Firstly: because we cannot testify that Allaah meant this.
Secondly: because the number of months and years with Allaah is based on the new moons. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“It is He Who made the sun to be a shining glory and the moon to be a light (of beauty), and measured out stages for it; that ye might know the number of years and the count (of time)”
[Yoonus 10:5]
“They ask you (O Muhammad(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)about the new moons. Say: These are signs to mark fixed periods of time for mankind and for the pilgrimage”
[al-Baqarah 2:189]
Tafseer Soorat al-Kahf.
Reckoning time by the moon and the new moons was well known to the Prophets and their peoples, and reckoning time by the sun was only known to the ignorant followers of false religions, but unfortunately many Muslims follow them nowadays.
Dr Khaalid al-Sabt says, in his refutation of those who say that the verse“The building which they built” [al-Tawbah 9:11]in al-Tawbah refers to the explosions in America:
5 (the fifth point) – These connections are based on the solar calendar, which is a calendar that was inherited from idolatrous nations, and which was of no significance to the Prophets (blessing and peace be upon them). Rather the calendar that counts in sharee’ah is the calendar that is based on the moon and new moons, which is more precise. This indicates that what was known to the Prophets was the lunar calendar. In the hadeeth of Waathilah ibn al-Asqa’ (may Allaah be pleased with him) it says that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The Suhuf of Ibraaheem were revealed to him on the first night of Ramadaan, and the Tawrat (Torah) was revealed on the sixth of Ramadaan, and the Injeel (Gospel) on the thirteenth of Ramadaan, and the Furqaan (Qur’aan) was revealed on the twenty-fourth of Ramadaan.” Narrated by Ahmad (4/107) and by al-Bayhaqi inal-Sunan(9/188). Its isnaad is hasan. It was also mentioned by al-Albaani inal-Saheehah(1575). This could not be known unless the calendar was based on the moon and new moons. This is also indicated by the hadeeth which was narrated inal-Saheehaynfrom Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came to Madeenah, he found the Jews fasting on the day of ‘Ashoora’. He said: “What is this?” They said: This is a good day, this is the day on which Allaah saved the Children of Israel from their enemies. So Moosa fasted on that day … Narrated by al-Bukhaari (2004) and Muslim (1130). And al-Haafiz (may Allaah have mercy on him) stated clearly that they did not base their count (of time) on the sun. See:al-Fath(4/291 and 7/323).
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, commenting on the verses“It is He Who made the sun a shining thing and the moon as a light and measured out for it stages” [Yoonus 10:5]and“And the moon, We have measured for it mansions (to traverse) till it returns like the old dried curved date stalk” [Yaa Seen 36:38, 39]: Hence the lunar calendar was better known among the nations and was less likely to involve errors, and it is more precise than the solar calendar, and all people can follow it easily. Hence Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “and measured out for it stages that you might know the number of years and the reckoning” [Yoonus 10:5]. But He did not say that about the sun, hence the months of Hajj, fasting, Eid and other Islamic occasions are based on the lunar calendar. This is by the wisdom of Allaah and His mercy, and so as to protect His religion, as the people may all be able to figure out this count of time easily and avoid mistakes, and so that no differences or confusion would happen to the religion as happened to the people of the Book.
End quote fromMiftaah Daar al-Sa’aadah, p. 538, 539.
It may be understood from the last comment of Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) that the people of the Book used to follow a solar calendar, and this was stated clearly by al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) in his response after he attributed this view to Ibn al-Qayyim. Seeal-Fath(7/323).
But in fact it played no role in their religion, rather it was introduced after that by the ignorant among them. End quote.
Concerning the things we learn from the verse“They ask you (O Muhammad(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)about the new moons…”, Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
… and we learn that the fixed periods of time for all nations are the fixed periods of time that were established by Allaah for them – which are the new moons – so these are global fixed periods of time, because Allaah says “fixed periods of time for mankind”. As for what has happened recently, namely the adoption of the European calendar, there it has no tangible basis and it makes no sense and is not prescribed in sharee’ah. Hence you find that one month has twenty-eight days and some have thirty days and some have thirty one, without any known reason for this discrepancy. Moreover these months have no physical sign that the people can refer to in order to work out time, unlike the lunar months which have a physical sign that is known to everyone. End quote.
Tafseer al-Baqarah(2/371).
Al-Qurtubi said, commenting on the verse“Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allaah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth” [al-Tawbah 9:36]: This verse indicates that rulings on acts of worship and other matters must be connected to the months and years that were known to the Arabs, and not those that were used by the Persians, Byzantines or Copts, and they should not be more than twelve months, because they vary in the number of days; some of them being thirty days and some of them being more or less. But the months of the Arabs never exceed thirty days, although some of them may be less; the ones that are less are not any specific months, rather that varies according to variations in the moon’s movement through the sky. End quote.Tafseer al-Qurtubi(8/133).
And Allaah knows best.






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Dought & clear, - {Islamic history and biography}, - - Is it proven that ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote a letter to the Nile in Egypt sothat its water would flow by Allah’s leave?



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I want to know the authenticity of the story about Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) writing a letter to the River Nile. It seems to me as illogical, for the Qur'aan and the Saheeh saheeh Sunnah (authentic prophetic traditions) do not teach such a thing. Also, that for droughts, Salah Salat Ul al Istisqa is authentically established.
Praise be to Allah
Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
It was narrated to us via Ibn Luhay‘ah from Qays ibn al-Hajjaj from someone who told him: When Egypt was conquered, its people came to ‘Amr ibn al-‘As (may Allah be pleased with him) and said to him: O Ameer, this Nile of ours is used to something and cannot flow unless it is done. He said: What is that? They said: On the twelfth night of this month, we take a young girl from her parents, and we placate her parents, then we dress her in jewellery and the finest garments there can be, then we throw her into this Nile.
‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) said to them: This is something that cannot happen in Islam; Islam erases that which came before it (of bad customs).
So they stayed for a while, during which the Nile did not flow at all, neither a little nor a lot, until they thought of leaving. Then ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), telling him about this. He wrote to him, saying: You did the right thing. I am sending you a piece of paper with my letter; throw it into the Nile.
When his letter came, ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) took the piece of paper on which was written:
“From the slave of Allah ‘Umar, Ameer al-Mumineen, to the Nile of the people of Egypt.
To proceed: If you only flow on your own initiative, then do not flow, for we have no need of you. But if you only flow on the command of Allah, the One, the Subduer, and He is the One Who causes you to flow, then we ask Allah, may He be exalted, to make you flow.”
He threw the paper in the Nile and by Saturday morning, Allah had caused the Nile to flow (to a depth or width of) sixteen cubits in one night, and Allah put an end to this particular custom of the people of Egypt until today.
End quote from al-Bidayah wa’n-Nihayah, 7/114-115
Similar reports were also narrated by Ibn ‘Abd al-Hakam in Futooh Misr, p. 165; al-Lalkai in Sharh I‘tiqad Ahl as-Sunnah, 6/463; Ibn ‘Asakir in Tareekh Dimashq, 44/336; Abu’sh-Shaykh in al-‘Azamah, 4/1424, via Ibn Luhay‘ah.
This is a da‘eef isnad (weak chain of narration) that is not saheeh, and this report cannot be proven with such an isnad. Ibn Luhay‘ah – whose full name was ‘Abdullah ibn Luhay‘ah ibn ‘Uqbah – is da ‘eef as he used to get mixed up, and in addition to that he is mudallis (one who narrates from someone he met something he did not hear). See at-Tahdheeb, 5/327-33; Mizan al-I‘tidaal, 2/475-484
Qays ibn al-Hajjaj is sadooq (trustworthy), from the sixth level of hadeeth narrators (tabaqah) according to al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar; they are the ones who it is not proven that they met any of the Sahabah/Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). See: Taqreeb at-Tahdheeb, 1/25
Sometimes he narrated it as a mursal (the link between the Successor and the Prophet is missing) report and sometimes he narrated it from the one who told him, but the one who told him is majhool and not known.
So the report is da‘eef (weak) and is not saheeh (sound)
If this story were true, everyone would know about it and it would be well known, and it would have been widely narrated through confirmed isnads, because it is an important and significant event, the like of which should not be ignored; rather an incident less significant than this would not be overlooked by historians and narrators.
And Allah knows best.




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Dought & clear, - {Islamic history and biography}, - - She is asking about the best book on the stories of the Prophets



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I need the name of a book that has not been distorted and is trustworthy, about the stories of all the Prophets.
Praise be to Allah.
In the Book of Allah, may He be exalted, you will find the truest, most beautiful and most trustworthy of stories, because it is the word of Allah, may He be exalted, which illuminated the world with its lessons and rulings. Reading the stories of the Messengers and Prophets in the verses of the Qur’aan is one of the greatest ways of bringing benefits and good to the Muslim, let alone the immense reward that is attained by the one who ponders the Book of Allah, may He be exalted. Hence we advise you to be keen to pursue this way of goodness, for the Muslim can never do without the Book of Allah, may He be exalted, no matter what other books he reads.
With regard to the books of the scholars about the stories of the Prophets, the best of them – as it appears to us – are the following:
1.
Qasasal-Anbiya’(Stories of the Prophets) by al-Haafiz Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) (d. 774 AH). This is perhaps the best of the books of the early scholars on this topic, as it is distinguished by compiling all of the verses having to do with the story of each Prophet in one place, and making connections between them by commenting on them and quoting hadeeths and reports that have to do with them. It is an encyclopaedic and well organised book that discusses the lives of the Prophets, although it quotes rather too many reports that are not proven and some reports from Jewish sources (Israa’eeliyyaat). However for the most part he points out the origin of these reports, and he states that he only quotes for the purpose of studying them and highlighting their status. So we recommend you to read this book and study it. The one who wants to study these stories with the best annotation should read the bookal-Bidaayah wa’n-Nihaayah(Dar Hajar edn., published under the supervision of Dr. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abd al-Muhsin at-Turki), becauseQasasal-Anbiya’is taken from the first chapters ofal-Bidaayah wa’n-Nihaayah.
2.
al-Ahaadeethas-Saheehah min Akhbaar wa Qasas al-Anbiya’(The saheeh hadeeths that speak of the lives and stories of the Prophets) was compiled and their isnaads evaluated by Ibraaheem Muhammad al-‘Ali (publ. by Dar al-Qalam in Damascus and Dar ash-Shaamiyyah in Beirut, 276 pages). It is a very useful book that is distinguished by the fact that it includes many hadeeths that speak of the stories of the Messengers and Prophets, and the material is organised with comments in a manner that complements these stories. The author (may Allah have mercy on him) put a great deal of effort into selecting saheeh and hasan hadeeths and reports, and avoiding weak and fabricated material. This may be the best contemporary book on this topic.
3.
Qasasal-Anbiya’by al-‘Allaamah ‘Abd ar-Rahmaan as-Sa‘di (d. 1376 AH). This is a short book that is taken from his bookTayseeral-Lateef al-Mannaan fi Khilaasat Tafseer al-Qur’an, in which he recounts the stories of the Prophets as they were narrated in the Holy Qur’aan, in sequence, and he follows each story with a brief discussion of what we learn from it.
And Allah knows best.




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Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Hajj & Umrah, - *Discovering the Bounties of Hajj - I



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Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:
*.}Indeed, the first House ]of worship[ established for mankind was that at Makkah - blessed and a guidance for the worlds. In it are clear signs ]such as[ the standing place of Abraham. And whoever enters it shall be safe. And ]due[ to Allaah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House - for whoever is able to find thereto a way.{]Quran 3: 96-97[
*.}And ]mention[ when We made the House a place of return for the people and ]a place of[ security. And take, ]O believers[, from the standing place of Abraham a place of prayer. And We charged Abraham and Ishmael, ]saying[, "Purify My House for those who perform Tawaaf and those who are staying ]there[ for worship and those who bow and prostrate ]in prayer[."{]Quran 2: 125[
Al-Masjid Al-Haraam)the Sacred Mosque in Makkah( is the cradle of Islam and theKa’bahis the place that Muslims circumambulate as an act of worship. The feeling of closeness to Allaah The Almighty and Divine love that are manifested in it are disseminated around the world. This has the most beautiful effect on every Muslim individual who has a protective zeal for his religion andUmmah)Muslim nation(. Thus, there is no wonder that Muslims respond to the call of Allaah The Almighty and to the Messengerwhen they call the Muslims to that which enlivens their faith, instills the spirit of sincere affection and brotherhood in them, and protects them from the ignominy of division and dispute.
In spite of the distance of their countries and the plurality of their races, they gather under the banner of the Noble Quran, unified by the word of Islam. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And remember the favor of Allaah upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers.{]Quran 2: 103[
Allaahu Akbar )Allaah is the Greatest(! How great it is to see pilgrims assumingIhraam)the sacral state( and chanting Talbiyah )the cry of“Labbaykallaahumma Labbayk, Labbayka la Shareeka Laka Labbayk, Innalhamda wan Ni’mata laka wal Mulk, la Shareeka Lak”(! How beautiful are the white clothes of Ihraam, that indicate the whiteness and purity of the heart!
How wonderful it is to see them when they are performing Tawaaf )circumambulation(, Rukoo’ )bowing(, Sujood )prostration(,Sa’y)walking( between mountsAs-SafaandAl-Marwahthat are from the rites of Allaah The Almighty! How wonderful to see them trying to get to know one another and showing kindness to each other in the House of Allaah The Almighty, gathering together in lessons of knowledge and guidance, and showing goodness to the needy. And whatever you do of good – indeed, Allaah The Almighty is Knowing of it.
Allaah The Almighty, perfect thanks and praise be to Him, has indeed perfected the religion, completed the favor, and chosen for us Islam as our religion. ImaamAhmad,Al-Bukhaari,Muslim,Abu Daawood,An-Nasaa’i,At-TirmithiandIbn Maajahreported fromTaariq ibn Shihaabwho said,
“A Jew came to ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaaband said, ‘There is a verse which you read in your Book; if it had been revealed to us Jews and we knew the day on which it was revealed, we would have taken it as a festival.’He said, ‘Which verse is that?’ He said )reciting 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[.’
‘Umarsaid, ‘By Allaah! I know when and where this verse was revealed to the Messenger of Allaah. It was the evening on the Day of ‘Arafah on a Friday.’”
Ibn Jareerreported from ‘Eesa ibn Haarithah Al-Ansaariwho said, “While we were sitting in the Deewaan, a Christian man said, ‘O Muslims, there is a verse that was revealed to you )Muslims(, and had it been revealed to us, we would have taken that day and place )on which it was revealed( as a day of celebration, even if only two of us remain )what means(:}This day I have perfected for you your religion.{]Quran 5: 3[ Upon that Muhammad ibn Ka’bsaid, ‘It was revealed to the Prophetwhile he was standing at the mount on the Day of ‘Arafah, and it will be a celebration for Muslims, even if only one remains.’”
As for his saying,“While we are sitting in the Deewaan”, it refers to the Deewaan that‘Umarfounded.‘Umarwas the first to establish the department of the exchequer in Islam and the Christian man was a clerk in it )i.e., the Deewaan(.





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Hajj & Umrah, - *Realizing the Essence and Purpose ofHajj – II



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5- Reminding of the Hereafter:
Hajjclearly reminds the slave of Allaah of the Last Day and the situations and terror it includes, through the following:
* Leaving his country and departing from his family. This reminds him of departing his country and family after death.
* Taking off form-fitting clothes and other adornments. This reminds him of the shroud as well as resurrection of the slaves of Allaah from their graves barefooted and uncircumcised on the Day of Judgment.
* Moving among the different places and facing hardship and exhaustion therein: this reminds him of the stress and hardships of the Day of Judgment when some of the slaves of Allaah will be bridled by sweat.
6- Teaching surrender and submission to Allaah The Almighty:
DuringHajj, slaves of Allaah learn surrender, submission and absolute obedience to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. This is achieved through two ways:
- The rites ofHajjsuch as taking off form-fitting clothes, abandoning adornment,Tawaaf,Sa‘y, staying at ‘Arafah, throwing the pebbles, spending the night in certain places, shaving or shortening one’s hair as well as other deeds that may have unclear rationales behind them. However, they are done in pure surrender to the command of Allaah The Almighty with no room for the slave's inclination or desires.
- The old memories that the rituals revive; memories that date back to the time of Ibraaheem )Abraham(and the consequences of surrender and submission to Allaah The Almighty, when aHajjpilgrim prefers to please Allaah The Almighty than to satisfy his desires.
7- Deepening the Islamic brotherhood and unity:
Despite the difference in languages, colors, countries and ethnics, allHajjpilgrims gather in one place, at one time, with one appearance, repeat one slogan and do all these actions motivated by one thing which is belief in Allaah The Almighty and keenness on obeying His commands and avoiding His forbiddances. This deepens love amongHajjpilgrims and boosts good relations, cooperation, meditation, as well as enables them to exchange advice and share experiences. This further encourages them to fulfill the requirements of that religion which gathered them and to spare no effort in striving to exalt it.
8- Connecting the pilgrims to their predecessors:
The rituals ofHajjbring to the mind old memories: the migration of Ibraaheemas well as his wife and newborn to Hijaz, the story when he was commanded to slaughter his son, building theKa‘bah, Ibraaheem’s call to people to performHajj. They also revive the memory ofHajjatul-Wadaa‘)the farewell pilgrimage(, when the Prophet,, performedHajjalong with one hundred thousand Companions. The Prophetsaid to them: "Take your rituals from me."
DuringHajj, one thinks of the different Islamic ages down to the present era, when over two million Muslims performHajjevery year. This calls upon a pilgrim to remember these generations which attended the sacred places before him. He reflects on the creed-related struggle which took place between the monotheists and the polytheists and how the former sacrificed lives, families, wealth and prestige for the sake of this religion.Hajjpilgrims also reflect on how stubborn and aggressive the polytheists were as they defended their interests and personal inclinations and desires.
With such things, a pilgrim will realize the reasons behind destruction and salvation, and thereby he will be watchful to utilize the available means for salvation and consider himself a successor of those who were saved, such as the prophets and the righteous Muslims. Meanwhile, he will avoid causes of destruction, consider himself an enemy to wrongdoers and be certain that victory and Paradise will be for the righteous. AHajjpilgrim will also realize that the fate of all people is the same, which is death, and that he will leave the world just as they left. Therefore, he adheres to piety in order to rescue himself and taste peace and security between the hands of Allaah.
9- Intensifying remembrance of Allaah The Almighty:
Reflecting on the rituals ofHajj,Talbiyah)saying: “Labayka Allaahuma Labayk”(,Takbeer)saying:Allaah-u-Akbar( and supplications, etc, as well as the relevant Quranic and Prophetic texts, one observes that intensifying remembrance of Allaah The Almighty is one of the most prominent rationales and purposes behindHajj. In the Quran, Allaah Says )what means(:}But when you depart from ‘Arafat, remember Allaah at Al-Mash‘ar Al-Haraam.{]Quran 2: 198[
In aHadeeth, the Prophet,, said:"Tawaaf, Sa‘y between As-Safa and Al-Marwah, and throwing the pebbles are prescribed to establish remembrance of Allaah on earth."
10- Training on orderliness and teaching discipline:
There are restrictions, limits, commitments and various disciplinary aspects forHajjand a pilgrim is not permitted to violate them. Such things get the pilgrim used to loving order and maintaining it. Moreover, they teach a pilgrim to be committed through doing what is commanded and abandoning what is forbidden. There are many, clear texts to indicate this.
11- Other benefits:
There are countless other benefits related to this life and to the Hereafter; and to individuals and community. The abundance of benefits is expressed in the verse in which Allaah The Exalted Says )what means(:}That they may witness benefits for themselves.{]Quran 22: 28[
We ask Allaah The Almighty to guide us and to provide us with the greatest share of these benefits!





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Hajj & Umrah, - *Realizing the Essence and Purpose ofHajj - I



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When a Muslim realizes the essence ofHajjas well as the rationales and secrets behind it, this qualifies him to perform a valid and acceptedHajj. This is similar to humbleness in prayer. A person who has greater humility in prayer, his prayer is more likely to be accepted. The same applies toHajj. The more a pilgrim is aware of the essence, spirit and rationales behind theHajjas well as the purposes for which it has been prescribed and, further, he utilizes this to reform his creed and behavior, hisHajjwill be more likely to be accepted and greatly rewarded and he will benefit more.
Nevertheless, no one will be able to achieve this unless he qualifies himself by actively seeking the secrets and rationale behindHajjand reflecting on them. AHajjpilgrim who does not attempt that ought to worry that hisHajjmay amount to no more than a mixture of tourism and tiredness.
Here are some of the most important rationales and purposes behindHajjthat a pilgrim should realize:
1- Attaining piety:
One of the purposes behindHajjis to attain piety. Piety is firmly and explicitly connected toHajjin the relevant Quranic verses. Allaah The Exalted Says )what means(:
·}And complete the Hajj and ‘Umrah for Allaah……….. And be pious to Allaah.{]Quran 2: 196[
·}And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is piety.{]Quran 2: 197[
2- Firmly establishing and asserting Islamic monotheism in the heart and mind:
Hajjis based on dedicating one's intention to Allaah The Almighty and doing everything only for His Sake. Allaah The Exalted Says )what means(:
·}And complete the Hajj and ‘Umrah for Allaah.{]Quran 2: 196[
·}So avoid the uncleanliness of idols and avoid false statement, Inclining ]only[ to Allaah, not associating ]anything[ with Him….{]Quran 22: 30-31[
Talbiyahwhich is the slogan ofHajj, explicitly states dedicating worship to Allaah The Almighty alone:"Labbayka Allaahumma labbayk. Labbayka laa shareeka laka labbayk. Innalhamda wan-n‘imata laka walmulk, laa shareek lak)O Allaah, I answer Your Call, there is no partner to You, to You Alone belong praise, favor and sovereignty, there is no partner to You."
Hajjis also based on compliance to the methodology of the Prophet,, and avoiding polytheism in obedience. To perform any of theHajjrituals according to one's whims and inclinations is rejected. Rather, it is necessary to follow the example of the Prophet,, and to adhere to his methodology.
3- Honoring the symbols of Allaah and what He deems sacred :
One of the most prominent purposes and rationales behindHajjis getting a slave of Allaah used to honor, exalt and love the symbols of Allaah The Almighty and what He deems sacred. One has to fear violating or going against the forbiddances of Allaah The Almighty. In the course of the Quranic verses relevant to theHajj, Allaah Says )what means(:}That ]is so[. And whoever honors the Symbols of Allaah - indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.{]Quran 22: 32[
4- Teaching noble morals and good characteristics:
a- Chastity:
Allaah Says )what means(:}Hajj is ]during[ well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein ]by entering the state of Ihraam[, there is ]to be for him[ no sexual relations….{]Quran 2: 197[ Foreplay is included as well.
b- Restraining anger and abandoning disputing and arguing:
Allaah Says )what means(:}and no disputing during Hajj…{]Quran 2: 197[ Commenting on the verse, ‘Ataa’said,"It refers to disputing with your companion until you anger him or he angers you."According to the preponderant view, it means stressing forbiddance of dispraised disputes only, which is arguing and disputing over matters which are useless underSharee'ah)Islamic legislation(.
c- Gentleness, leniency and tranquility:
When the Prophet,, heard people harshly urge and beat camels upon leaving Muzdalifah, he remarked: "O people, be tranquil, because it is not hastiness that indicates righteousness.”
d- Self-denial and mingling with others:
DuringHajj, a person denies himself, abandons everything with which distinguishes himself and becomes exactly like all his brothers in dress, saying theTalbiyah,moving from one place to another and acts of worship.
e- Teaching a Muslim how to bear the consequences of one's mistakes:
This clearly appears in the obligatory compensation )Fidyah( when a pilgrim deliberately violates one of the restrictions ofIhraam, stays in the wrong place on ‘Arafah or moves to Muzdalifah before sunset etc.
f- Teaching modesty:
This clearly appears through the unity of all pilgrims in rituals as well as in their experience and feelings. All material differences among pilgrims in terms of language, color or wealth, etc are denied. In the course ofKhutbat Al-Wadaa‘)the Farwell sermon(, the Prophet,, said:"O people, ]mind that[ your Lord is One and your father )i.e Adam( is one. Verily, except by piety, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, a non-Arab has no superiority over an Arab, a red has no superiority over a black, and a black has no superiority over a red."
g- Teaching patience in all its aspects:
DuringHajj, a pilgrim curbs his desires and inclinations by abstaining from anything that would violate his state ofIhraam.Furthermore, he abstains from some things which are permissible, when he is not in the state ofIhraam. A pilgrim exposes himself to hardship and exhaustion for the sake of obeying the commands of Allaah The Almighty to perform and complete the rituals ofHajj. This creates incentives within him to abandon acts of disobedience, obey Allaah The Almighty and bear hardship for the sake of pleasing Him even afterHajjis over.
h- Giving and generosity:
This clearly appears when the pilgrim pays the expenses of Hajj.





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Discover Islam, - *The entire world is asking: what is Islam?



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According to various reports in the Arab press, a wave of Americans has converted to Islam since September 11.
'Alaa Bayumi, director of Arab Affairs at the Council for American-Islamic Relations )CAIR(, wrote in theLondondailyAl-Hayat: "Non-Muslim Americans are now interested in getting to know Islam. There are a number of signs... Libraries have run out of books on Islam and theMiddle East... English translations of the Quran head the American best-seller list.
The Americans are showing increasing willingness to convert to Islam since September 11. Thousands of non-Muslim Americans have responded to invitations to visit mosques, resembling the waves of the sea )crashing on the shore( one after another. All this is happening in a political atmosphere that, at least verbally, encourages non-Muslim Americans' openness towards Muslims inAmericaand in the Islamic world, as the American president has said many times in his speeches. ..."
CAIR Chairman Nihad Awad told the Saudi paper'Ukaz: "34,000 Americans have converted to Islam following the events of September 11, and this is the highest rate reached in the US since Islam arrived there."
According to Dr. Walid Al-Fatihi, instructor of medicine atHarvardMedicalSchool,Bostonhas recently become a center of Islamic proselytizing aimed at Christians. On September 22, 2001, Al-Fatihi sent a letter to the Egyptian weeklyAl-Ahram Al-Arabi, in which he described the unfolding of events since September 11.
"On Saturday, September 15, I went with my wife and children to the biggest church inBoston, )TrinityChurch( inCopley Square, by official invitation of the Islamic Society of Boston, to represent Islam by special invitation of the senators ofBoston," wrote Fatihi. "Present were the mayor ofBoston, his wife and the heads of the universities. There were more than 1,000 people there, with media coverage by one ofBoston's main television stations. We were received like ambassadors. I sat with my wife and children in the front row, next to the mayor's wife. In his sermon, the priest defended Islam as a monotheistic religion, telling the audience that I represented the Islamic Society of Boston.
After the sermon was over, he stood at my side as I read an official statement issued by the leading Muslim clerics condemning the incident )i.e., the attacks(. The statement explained Islam's stance and principles, and its sublime precepts. Afterwards, I read verses of the Quran translated into English... These were moments that I will never forget, because the entire church burst into tears upon hearing the passages of the words of Allaah!
"Emotion swept over us," Al-Fatihi continued. "One said to me: 'I do not understand the Arabic language, but there is no doubt that the things you said are the words of Allaah.' As she left the church weeping, a woman put a piece of paper in my hand; on the paper was written: 'Forgive us for our past and for our present. Keep proselytizing to us.' Another man stood at the entrance of the church, his eyes teary, and said: 'You are just like us; no, you are better than us.'"
Al-Fatihi recounts the next day the Islamic Society of Boston issued an open invitation to the Islamic Center inCambridge.
"We did not expect more than 100 people, but to our surprise more than 1,000 people came -- among them the neighbors, the university lecturers, members of the clergy, and even the leaders of the priests from the nearby churches, who invited us to speak on Islam," Fatihi wrote. "All expressed solidarity with Muslims. Many questions flowed to us. Everyone wanted to know about Islam and to understand its precepts.
Of all the questions, not a single one attacked me; on the contrary, we saw )the people's( eyes filling with tears when they heard about Islam and its sublime principles. Many of them had never heard about Islam before. Well, they had heard about Islam only through the biased media. That same day, I was invited again to participate in a meeting in the church, and again I saw the same things.
On Thursday, a delegation of 300 students and lecturers from Harvard visited the center of the Islamic Society of Boston, accompanied by the American Ambassador toVienna. They sat on the floor of the mosque, which was filled to capacity. We explained to them the precepts of Islam, and defended it from any suspicions )promulgated in the media(. I again read to them from the verses of Allaah, and )their( eyes filled with tears. The audience was moved, and many asked to participate in the weekly lessons for non-Muslims held by the Islamic Center..."
Al-Fatihi says on September 21, the Muslims participated in a closed meeting with the Governor of Massachusetts. They discussed introducing Islam into the school curriculum. He claims Gov. Jane Swift agreed to implement their plans.
"These are only some of the examples of what happened and is happening in the city ofBoston, and in many other American cities, during these days," Al-Fatihi continued. "Proselytizing in the name of Allaah has not been undermined, and has not been set back 50 years, as we thought in the first days after September 11. On the contrary, the 11 days that have passed are like 11 years in the history of proselytizing in the name of Allaah.
I write to you today with the absolute confidence that over the next few years, Islam will spread in America and in the entire world, Allaah willing, much more quickly than it has spread in the past, because the entire world is asking: 'What is Islam?!'"






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Discover Islam, - *Penal laws in Islam



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In Islam, there are specific penal laws for major crimes. The underlying principles here are the following. Firstly, no matter how ideal a religion is, there will be some forms of transgression by some persons. Secondly, there are major crimes that need major punishments.
The major transgressions, according to Islam, are murder, highway robbery, theft, adultery, and false accusation of adultery. These transgressions affect the individual and the society and create a state of confusion and insecurity.
The principles that govern penal laws in Islam are:
1. The punishment should be effective enough to deter the crime.
2. Punishment is necessary, though disliked.
3. Punishment is a means to social security.
The Penalty for Murder:
As for murder, the Islamic punishment for intentional murder is the execution of the murderer. Pardoning is possible if the closest relative of the murdered person accepts blood-money. However, if murder is unintentional, blood-money takes the place of the death sentence.
In countries that have abolished capital punishment, we notice that such a cancellation has ended up with more murders and more murderers. Any toleration of murders will encourage more murders and the result is the loss of security.
In countries that apply the death sentence for murder, one notices that such a sentence minimises the cases of murder. When a person knows that he will be killed if he kills, he will think at least a thousand times before he considers committing a murder.
Islam legislated killing as a punishment for murder fourteen centuries ago. Allaah is the Most Merciful: man need not wait centuries until sociologists finish their research on the subject or until parliaments vote for a solution!
Allaah, through the Holy Quran, shows us the right way that provides society with security: intentional murder is punished by killing the murderer. Although killing is a severe punishment, it is fair because murder itself is an even more severe action and such a punishment is necessary because without it more murders are encouraged.
The Penalty for Highway Robbery:
Another crime that is specified in the Quran is highway robbery. The punishment of a highway robber may take one of these forms depending on the seriousness of the case. The robber may be put to death, or crucified, or have his hand and leg cut off on opposite sides, or imprisoned.
Of course, highway robbers threaten the security of the society, endanger the lives of individuals, and rob persons of their money. If such persons are punished softly, the result is more and more robbers as is the case of countries that deal with such criminals leniently.
On the contrary, in a country like Saudi Arabia, which applies Islamic penal laws, we find that the cases of murder and robbery are the fewest in the whole world. We must remember that the function of the punishment is double: the criminal himself is punished for what he has committed and other persons in the same community are warned not to commit similar crimes.
The Penalty for Theft:
The other crime that is specified in the Quran is theft. As we know, Islam emphasises the individual's safety with regard to his life, property, and honour. Any threat to these three entities is severely punished by Islam. A person who kills another or robs him is severely punished because this is the only way to guarantee security for every individual.
Concerning theft, Islam legislates cutting the thief's hand off as a maximum punishment and under certain conditions. In countries that apply this punishment, like Saudi Arabia, we notice that theft is a very rare occurrence. The judge decides the seriousness of the case and decides if the thief should get the maximum penalty or not, according to certain conditions and restrictions.
When a person knows that he will lose his hand if he uses it in stealing, this makes stealing a rare possibility. The implication of such a punishment is this: each organ in the body must be used cleanly, honourably, and legally. The function of the hand is not stealing. If the hand is used to threaten other people, it is a dangerous hand and the judge is entitled to reconsider its existence.
The other implication of cutting the hand off is to give the thief and other people a permanent example and a continuous reminder of the fate of thieves. In countries that merely imprison the thief, the thief himself may steal again after being released from prison.
The Penalty for Adultery:
Another major crime in Islamic law is adultery. The Holy Quran tells us that the adulterer or the adulteress is to be flogged one hundred stripes while being witnessed by some people. The idea of letting some people witness the carrying out of the punishment is to add to the psychological effect of flogging on the culprit. If the adulterer or adulteress is married, the penalty is stoning to death, according to certain strict conditions.
The position of Islam with regard to adultery is clear. If adultery is punished softly or not punished at all, the result will be destructive to the family structure. The family, according to Islam, is the best structure that secures happiness, security, loyalty, and belongingness to the husband, the wife, and children. Therefore, this family must be protected from all dangers and threats. One threat to the family surely comes from adultery. That is why Islam punishes adultery severely in order to penalise offenders and to deter others.
In countries that are lenient with adultery, before and after marriage, the result is obvious for all of us. Those countries have frequent divorces, frequent cases of rape, countless cases of nervous breakdown caused by divorce, murders accompanying rape, and a series of psychological and mental complications.
According to Islam, all physical needs must be organised and all psychological needs must be guaranteed. Eating is a need, but it must be regulated; otherwise, a person may starve or explode out of overeating. The same applies to the sexual need; this need must be satisfied and organised at the same time. The only safe solution is the Islamic one: sexual satisfaction through marriage only. This solution has no single bad side effect. On the contrary, free sex satisfies the sexual need, but it has a countless number of ill-effects that harm the family, adults, and children.
The Penalty for False Accusation of Adultery:
The other major crime is the false accusation of a woman of adultery. The punishment of a false accuser is flogging him eighty stripes and not admitting evidence from him throughout his life.
This severe punishment for a false accusation of adultery is justifiable on the basis that this accusation has a destructive influence on the woman involved. If she is married, she may be divorced in addition to the disgrace that will follow her and her family. If she is not married, this accusation may block the way of marriage in front of her.
As we have said, Islam puts high emphasis on an individual's life, property, and honour. Any threat to a person's life, property, or honour is severely punished by Islamic law.
Of course, offences are more than five. Those five mentioned here are the major ones. Because murder, robbery, theft, adultery, and false accusation of adultery are the major crimes, the Quran mentions them and specifies the punishment for each. Other crimes and offences are punished according to what the judge sees in the light of the spirit and text of penal laws.
As we can see, Islam is not a system of prayers and fasting only. It is a system that regulates worship, penal laws, marriage and divorce, inheritance, taxes, eating, clothing, and social relations. In brief, Islam is a comprehensive system that regulates all the aspects of human life, guides man to the best solutions to his major problems, and helps man to avoid problems in the first place.
]






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Discover Islam, - *Who is Allaah?



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Allaah is the proper name of the One True God. Nothing else can be called Allaah. This term has no plural or gendfer, which shows its uniqueness when compared with the word ‘god’, that can be made plural, gods; or feminine, goddess. It is a known fact that every language has one or more terms that are used in reference to God and sometimes to lesser deities. This is not the case with Allaah.
Some of the biggest misconceptions that many non-Muslims have about Islam have to do with the word "Allaah". For various reasons, many people have come to believe that Muslims worship a different God than Christians and Jews. This is totally false, since "Allaah" is simply the Arabic word for "God" -- and there is only One God. However, it is certainly true that Jews, Christians and Muslims all have different concepts of Almighty God. For example, Muslims, like Jews, reject the Christian beliefs of Trinity and Divine Incarnation. However, this does not mean that each of these three religions worships a different God – because there is only One True God. Judaism, Christianity and Islam are classified as ‘Monotheistic’, however, Islam teaches that other religions have, in one way or another, distorted and nullified a pure and proper belief in Almighty God by neglecting His true teachings and mixing them with man-made ideas.
The One True God is a reflection of the unique concept that Islam associates with God. To a Muslim, Allaah is the Almighty, Creator and Sustainer of the universe, who is similar to nothing and nothing is comparable to Him. The Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, )may Allaah exalt his mention( was asked by his contemporaries about Allaah; the answer came directly from Allaah Himself in the form of a short chapter of the Quran, which is considered the essence or the motto of monotheism. This is chapter 112 which reads )what means(:“Say: ‘He is Allaah, )who is( One, Allaah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.’”]Quran 112:1[
Some non-Muslims allege that God in Islam is a stern and cruel God who demands to be obeyed fully. He is not loving and kind. Nothing can be farther from the truth than this allegation. It is enough to know that with the exception of one, each of the 114 chapters of the Quran begins with the verse: "In the name of Allaah, the Merciful, the Compassionate." In one of the sayings of Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, we are told that:"Allaah is more loving and kinder than a mother to her dear child."
However, Allaah is also Just. Hence, wrongdoers and sinners must have their share of punishment, and the pious will receive His bounties and favors. People suffering throughout their lives while seeking Allaah’s bounty and people oppressing and exploiting other people all their lives should not receive similar treatment from their Lord. Expecting similar treatment for them is contrary to the very belief in the accountability of man in the Hereafter, which removes all the incentives for striving to attain a moral and virtuous life in this world.
Islam rejects characterizing God in any human form or depicting Him as favoring certain individuals or nations on the basis of wealth, power or race. He created human beings as equals. They may distinguish themselves and get His favor only through virtue and piety.
The concepts that God rested in the seventh day of creation, that God wrestled with one of His soldiers, that God is an envious plotter against mankind, or that God is incarnate in any human being are considered blasphemy from the Islamic point of view.
The Creator must have a different nature from the things He created, because if He were of the same nature as them, He would be temporal and would therefore need a maker. Therefore, nothing is like Him. If the Maker is not temporal, then He must be Eternal. The Eternal cannot be bound by limitations. He is the Self-Sufficient because nothing outside Him can cause him to continue to exist, and if nothing outside Him causes Him to continue to exist, this means that He is Self-Sufficient. And if He does not depend on anything for the continuance of His own existence, then His existence can have no end. The Creator is therefore Eternal and Everlasting.
Linguistically, it is interesting to note that the Aramaic word "El", which is the word for God in the language that ‘Eesaa )Jesus(, may Allaah exalt his mention, spoke, is certainly more similar in sound to the word "Allaah" than the English word "God". This also holds true for the various Hebrew words for God, which is "El" and "Elah", and the plural form "Elohim". The reason for these similarities is that Aramaic, Hebrew and Arabic are all Semitic languages with common origins. It should also be noted that in translating the Bible into English, the Hebrew word "El" is translated variously as "God", "god" and "angel"! This imprecise language allows different translators, based on their preconceived notions, to translate the word to fit their own views. The Arabic word "Allaah" presents no such difficulty or ambiguity, since it is only used for Almighty God alone. Additionally, in English, the only difference between "god", meaning a false god, and "God", meaning the One True God, is the capital "G" which is commonly used in written works.






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