Tuesday 30 December 2008

The Month Of Muharram

Muharram is the first month of the Islamic, Hijrah calendar. It is one of the four sanctified months about which Allah Ta'ala says, 'The number of months in the sight of Allah are twelve (in a year) - So ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; Of them four are sacred: That is the right religion. So wrong not yourselves therein.' (Surah Taubah).

The four months, according to authentic Ahaadith, are the months of Zul-Qa`dah, Zul Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. The sanctity of these four months was observed in the Shari'ah of all the Ambiyaa (AS).

'Allah Ta'ala made them (i.e. the four months) sacred and increased their sanctity. Hence declared a sin therein more severe and increased the virtue of good deeds and (also) the reward thereof.' (Ibn Katheer).

The Ulama have stated that the actions performed in these months have an effect on what a person does in the remaining months of the year.

THE MONTH OF MUHARRAM


The best of fasts besides the month of Ramadhaan is the fast during Allah's month of Muharram and the best of Salaats besides the Fardh (obligatory Salaat) is the Tahajjud Salaah (performed
after midnight). (Sahih Muslim).

THE DAY OF AASHURA (10th OF MUHARRAM)

The tenth of Muharram, known as the day of Aashura, is a very significant day in the Islamic calendar. Nabi (SA) has exhorted the Ummah to fast on this day. Hadhrat Aaisha (RA) reports that Nabi (SAW) ordered the observance of the fast of Aashura. However, when the fast of Ramadhaan became compulsory, Nabi (SAW) left the fast of Aashura (i.e. the compulsion).

Thereafter, whosoever desired kept this fast and whosoever desired, (not to keep it) did not observe this fast'. (Sahih Bukhari, Vol 1).

Hadhrat Ibn Abbaas (RA) says, 'I did not see Rasulullah (SAW) anxiously await the fast of any day, which he gave preference to over other days, but this day (of Aashura) and the month of Ramadhaan (Sahih Bukhaari, Vol. 1).

VIRTUE OF THE FAST OF AASHURA

With regard to the blessing of this fast, Nabi (SAW) was asked regarding it's virtue. He answered, 'It is a compansation for the sins of the past year.' i.e. the sins of one year that has just gone by will be forgiven. (Sahih Muslim, Vol. 1).Note: Only minor sins are forgiven. For the forgiveness of major sins, Towbah is a prerequisite.

THE FAST OF AASHURA

Hadhrat Ibn Abbaas (RA) narrates that when Nabi (SAW) came to Madinah and found the Jews fasting on the day of Aashura, he inquired, 'What is the significance of this day on which you fast?' They replied, 'This is the day Allah saved Nabi Moosa (AS) and his followers and drowned Fir'oun and his army, thus Moosa (AS) fasted on this day as a token of thanksgiving. Therefore we too fast on this day.' (Sahih Muslim, Vol 1).Rasulullah (SAW) said, 'We are more worthy of Moosa (AS) and nearer to him that you.' Thereafter, he fasted on this day and ordered the Sahaabah to fast on this day. (Sahih Muslim, Vol. 1)

Rasulullah (SAW) is reported to have said, 'Observe the fast of Aashura and oppose (the way of) the Jews. Fast a day before it (also) or a day after it.' (Baihaqi, Vol 4)
Hence, one should fast for two days: Either the 9th and 10th or the 10th and 11th. To fast only on the 10th of Muharram is MAKROOH (reprehensible) and bears semblance to the Jews.

GENEROSITY TO ONE'S FAMILY

Besides fasting on the day of Aashura, being generous to one's family and spending more than what is normally spent on food, etc. is an act of great merit. It is mentioned in a Hadith, 'He who will be generous to his family on the day of Aashura, Allah will be generous to him for the entire year.'

Taken from
Everymuslim.net

P.S: Happy New Islamic Year :D

Saturday 20 December 2008

A Description of Jannah (Qasidah Nuniyyah) - Ibn al-Qayyim Rahimahullah

Ibn al-Qayyim rahimahulllah said, in regards to the description of the Paradise and the delights that it contains:

And if you ask about its ground and its soil, then it is of musk and saffron.

And if you ask about its roof, then it is the Throne of the Most Merciful.

And if you ask about its rocks, then they are pearls and jewels.

And if you ask about its buildings, then they are made of bricks of gold and silver.

And if you ask about its trees, then it does not contain a single tree except that its trunk is made of gold and silver.

And if you ask about its fruits, then they are softer than butter and sweeter than honey.

And if you ask about its leaves, then they are softer than the softest cloth.

And if you ask about its rivers, then there are rivers of milk who's taste does not change, and rivers of wine that is delicious to those who drink it, and rivers of honey that is pure, and rivers of water that is fresh.

And if you ask about their food, then it is fruits from whatever they will choose, and the meat of whatever birds they desire.And if you ask about their drink, then it is Tasneem, ginger, and Kaafoor.

And if you ask about their drinking cups, then they are crystal-clear and made of gold and silver.

And if you ask about its shade, then a fast rider would ride in the shade of one of its trees for a hundred years and not escape it.

And if you ask about its vastness, then the lowest of its people would have within his kingdom and walls and palaces and gardens the distance that would be travelled in a thousand years.

And if you ask about its tents and encampments, then one tent is like a concealed pearl that is sixty miles long.

And if you ask about its towers, then they are rooms above rooms in buildings that have rivers running underneath them.

And if you ask about how far it reaches into the sky, then look at the shining star that is visible, as well as those that are far in the heavens that the eyesight cannot possibly reach.

And if you ask about the clothing of its inhabitants, then they are of silk and gold.

And if you ask about its beds, then its blankets are of the finest silk laid out in the highest of its levels.

And if you ask about the faces of its inhabitants and their beauty, then they are like the image of the Moon.And if you ask about their age, then they are young ones of 33 years in the image of Adam, the father of humanity.

And if you ask about what they will be hearing, then it is the singing of their wives from among the Hoor al-'Ayn, and better than that are the voices of the Angels and the Prophets, and better than that is the Speech of the Lord of the Worlds.

And if you ask about their servants, then they are young boys of everlasting youth who resemble scattered pearls.

And if you ask about their brides and wives, then they are young and full-breasted and have had the liquid of youth flow through their limbs; the Sun runs along the beauty of her face if she shows it, light shines from between her teeth if she smiles; if you meet her love, then say whatever you want regarding the joining of two lights; he sees his face in the roundness of her cheek as if he is looking into a polished mirror, and he sees the brightness from behind her muscles and bones; if she were to be unleashed upon the World, she would fill what is between the Heavens and the Earth with a beautiful wind, and the mouths of the creation would glorifiy, praise, and exclaim greatness, and everything between the East and the West would be adorned for her, and every eye would be shut from everthing but her, and the light of the Sun would be outshone just as the light of the Sun outshines the light of the stars, and everyone on the face of the Earth would believe in the Ever-Living, the One who Sustains and Protects all the exists.

And the covering on her head is better than the World and all that is in it, and she does not increase with age except in beauty; free from an umbilical cord, childbirth and menses, and pure of mucous, saliva, urine and other filthy things; her youth never fades, her clothing is never worn out, no garment can be created that matches her beauty, and no one who is with her can ever become bored; her attention is restricted to her husband, so she desires none but him, just as his attention is restricted to her so she is the sole object of his desire, and he is with her in utmost safety and security, as none has touched her before of either humans or Jinn.

And if you ask about the Day of Increase (in reward) and the visit of the all-Mighty, all-Wise, and the sight of His Face - free from any resemblance or likeness to anything - as you see the Sun in the middle of the day and the full Moon on a cloudless night, then listen on the day that the caller will call:


'O People of Paradise! Your Lord - Blessed and Exalted - requests you to visit Him, so come to visit Him!'

So they will say:


'We hear and obey!'

Until, when they finally reach the wide valley where they will all meet - and none of them will turn down the request of the caller - the Lord - Blessed and Exalted - will order His Chair to be brought there.

Then, pulpits of light will emerge, as well as pulpits of pearls, gemstone, gold, and silver.

The lowest of them in rank will sit on sheets of musk, and will not see what those who are on the chairs above them are given. When they are comfortable where they are sitting and are secure in their places, and the caller calls:


'O People of Paradise! You have an appointment with Allah in which He wishes to reward you!'

So they will say:


'And what is that reward? Has He not already made our faces bright, made our scales heavy, entered us into Paradise, and pushed us away from the Fire?'

And when they are like that, all of a sudden a light shines that encompasses all of Paradise. So, they raise their heads, and, behold: the Compeller - Exalted is He, and Holy are His Names - has come to them from above them and majestified them and said:


'O People of Paradise! Peace be upon you!'
So, this greeting will not be responded to with anything better than:
'O Allah! You are Peace, and from You is Peace! Blessed are You, O possessor of Majesty and Honor!'

So the Lord - Blessed and Exalted - will laugh to them and say:


'O People of Paradise! Where are those who used to obey Me without having ever seen Me? This is the Day of Increase!'

So, they will all give the same response:


'We are pleased, so be pleased with us!'
So, He will say:

'O People of Paradise! If I were not pleased with you, I would not have made you inhabitants of My Paradise! So, ask of Me!'

So, they will all give the same response:


'Show us your Face so that we may look at it!'

So, the Lord - Mighty and Majestic - will remove his covering and will majestify them and will cover them with His Light, which, if Allah - the Exalted - had not Willed not to burn them, would have burned them.And there will not remain a single person in this gathering except that his Lord - the Exalted - will speak to him and say:


'Do you remember the day that you did this and that?'


and He will remind him of some of his bad deeds in the Worldy life, so he will say:


'O Lord! Will you not forgive me?'

So, He will say:


'Of course! You have not reached this position of yours (in Paradise) except by My forgiveness.'

So, how sweet is this speech to the ears, and how cooled are the righteous eyes by the glance at His Noble Face in the Afterlife...


"Some faces that Day will be shining and radiant, looking at their Lord..." (Surah Qiyamah:22-3)

Thursday 18 December 2008

'I was a policeman and would often drink alcohol..."

“I was a policeman and would often drink alcohol. I bought a beautiful slave girl with whom I had a daughter. I loved my daughter greatly and doted on her and when she began to crawl on all fours I grew even more fond of her. Whenever I put an alcoholic drink in front of me, she would come to me and pull me away from it, or she would spill it from me. When she was two years old, she died. I became consumed with grief over her loss.

It was the night before Jummah, I stayed home and drank and I did not pray the ‘Isha prayer. Then I had a dream. I dreamt that the Day of Judgement had begun, the Trumpet was blown, the graves gave up their dead, mankind was gathered up and I was among them. I heard something behind me, I turned around and saw a huge snake of indescribable size, blue-black, rushing for me with wide-open jaws. I fled in terror.

I passed by an old man dressed in spotless clothes, smelling beautiful. I greeted him and he greeted me back. I said to him, ‘O old man ! Protect me from this snake, and may Allah protect you!’ The old man wept and said, ‘I am weak and it is stronger than me, I cannot overcome it. Go quickly, perhaps Allah will grant you something that will save you from it. I climbed up on one of the highest points of the day of Resurrection overlooking the layers of Hell. But someone cried out to me, ‘Go back! You are not one of the inmates of Hell.’ These words calmed by fears and I went back.

But the snake pursued me. I went back to the old man and said, ‘O old man! I begged you to protect me from this snake but you didn’t protect me!’ Again, the old man wept, and said, ‘I am weak, but go to that mountain. In it are kept the stores of Muslims. If there is something in store for you, then it will help you.’

I looked and saw a round shaped mountain of silver topped with domes of hollowed pearls and hanging drapes, and every dome had two large gates of red gold encrusted with emeralds and pearls and overhung with drapes of silk.

When I saw the mountain I ran to it, with the snake in hot pursuit. As I approached the mountain one of the angels cried out, ‘Raise up the veils, open the gates and look out! Perhaps this wretched one has something in store with you that will save him from his enemy.’ At this, the veils were lifted, the gates were opened and out of the palaces came children with faces like full moons. The snake was catching up to me and I was near despair!

One of the children cried out, ‘Woe to you! Come and see all of you! His enemy is very near him.’ At this, the children came, one wave after another, and among them was the dear daughter of mine that had died, two years before. When she saw me she wept and said, ‘my father! By Allah! ’ She leapt into a carriage of light and came near me with the speed of an arrow. She put her left hand in my right hand and I held on to her tight. Then she stretched her right hand in front of the snake, and it turned around and fled.

My daughter bade me sit, then she sat on my lap and began to stroke my beard and said, ‘O my father!’ then quoted from the Quran (57:16), saying, ‘Has not the time come for those who believe, that their hearts become humbled at the remembrance of Allah?’ I began to weep and said, ‘O daughter, you children know Quran?’ She replied, ‘My father! We know it better than you.’ I said to her, ‘Tell me about the snake which wanted to destroy me.’ She replied, ‘Those were your evil deeds that you built up and strengthened, and they wanted to take you to the Hellfire.’ I asked, ‘What about the old man I passed by?’ She replied, ‘O my father, those were your righteous deeds, you made them weak until they were no match for your evil deeds .’
I said, ‘O my daughter! What are you all doing in this mountain?’ She said, ‘we are the children of Muslims, we have been given this dwelling place until the Hour rises. We await whatever you send forth to us, and we intercede for you’.

Then I woke startled and saw that morning had come. I flung the alcohol from me and shattered the drinking cups, and I repented to Allah.”

This person who repented so sincerely was Shaykh Maalik Bin Dinaar(Rahmatullah alaiyhe), who later became one of the renowned Divines of his times. It is said that, in his early life, he was not a pious man and when someone asked him how he came to repent of his sins and abandon his evil ways, he related the above story about himself.

Taken from
Al Islaah

Wednesday 17 December 2008

Having Time For Others - Part 4

The Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam was a man who was busier than any other person to have stepped foot on the planet. The task that was bestowed upon him contributed significantly to this and one would imagine that a job so daunting would not allow a person to do much else. If we analyse our own schedules, we realise that time is something we hold in high regard. How many a time have we received a phone call and have made excuses in order to pursue another goal? However, the fact remains that our struggles and difficulties do not tantamount even to a single difficulty endured by the Prophet salallahu alahyi wa salam. What man could have been busier than the Prophet salallahu alayhi salam? What student could have more work to do than the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam?

Sometimes we are not even busy, we just be selective with who we speak to. We show kindness to those above us or equal to us in knowledge and actions but feel a need to ignore those wonderful souls who are still struggling on ‘Alif, Baa.’ This should never be the case. We must have time for everyone, even the worst of people. Hazrat Amr ibn al-Aas radiallahu anhu relates,

“The Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam gave attention, spoke and showed love to the worst person of a nation so that, the person may feel he is being given special attention. He used to give me such attentions and spoke to me also in a manner that I began to feel that I was the best among the community.”

It is hard now to get even a handshake or a smile on the road. I find the state of business truly amazing while I am travelling by tube or bus to different destinations. I often peer out of the window and watch how people are running round, each person has a greater worry than the one before and I often wonder how far their awareness of other people is. Some people are so bad that if you greet them at the wrong time, you may end up with a strained relation! The Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam, so beautiful was he, he would never be the first person to remove his hand from a handshake. When he would speak, he would turn his entire being to face that person and would not glance at them side on or show his back towards them. He, salallahu alayhi wa salam, would always have time for them – whoever they were.

May Allah Ta’ala give us all the ability to be considerate, compassionate and caring to others, May He forgive us of our indecencies towards other people and May He instil in us, the character of His Beloved salallahu alayhi wa salam. Ameen.

Sunday 14 December 2008

Sports car and the Qur'an

A young man was getting ready to graduate college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man waited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him.

He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box.
Curious, but somewhat disappointed the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Quran. Angrily, he raised his voice at his father and said "With all your money you give me a Quran?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the holy book.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business.
He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day.
Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search his father's important papers and saw the still new Quran, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Quran and began to turn the pages.
As he read those words, a car key dropped from an envelope taped behind the Quran. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words...PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss ALLAH's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected?

Taken from Al-Islah Publications

Tuesday 9 December 2008

Being Accustom To Sin

In this day and age, we as Muslims do not become upset from that which brings displeasure to Allah Ta'ala. The main example is sin. We do not feel hate or disgust for it because we have become used to sin.

We are all Muslims and if we see something happening before our own eyes that we know is Haraam then immediately we should realise that that act will also bring the displeasure of Allah. If we cannot stop the sin with our hands, then we should atleast use our mouths by advising the person involved in the sin to either stop or not to go ahead with the action. If a person cannot do that then he should atleast feel some sort of sadness in his heart.

It has been the practice of the great scholars of the past that if they saw a person involved in a sin then they would never look down on that person or treat him with hate. Instead they would make shukr and give thanks to Allah Ta'ala that He kept them away from such acts of disobedience. They would make dua that Allah Ta'ala removes that sin from that person's life.

A famous saying comes to mind where someone stated that, "An increase in evil occurs when good people fail to speak." Whether you pray 5 times a day or even if you don't pray at all, we as muslims are all equal and brothers to one another and nobody is superior in status. If a person needs to be advised or reminded then we should do so and not think "I'm not pious enough to do so" or "What if they laugh at me?" or "what if they reject me?" Forget about what people think your duty is to remind people especially when Halal and Haraam situations are present before you and you have the correct amount of knowledge to actually get your point across.

I've also noticed that some people have tonnes of knowledge when it comes to topics that are debatable in Islam and ones that cause controversy, but what about the basic topics of day to day life? Forget about all the Madhab issues and whether one is following the Qur'an and Sunnah in Salaah and focus on actually getting the people to pray their salaah!

Just to wrap it up I'll narrate the following analogy taken from Mufti Taqi Usmani's book Discourses on Islamic Way Of Life Volume 9:

Our behaviour may be compared to a bad-smelling house offensive to the mind. If any outsider enters it, he will find it difficult to stay even a while in the house, but anyone already staying in it will not sense the difference because he is accustome to-the smell. He will not understand why anyone should rebuke him for staying in the offensive atmosphere. The other man whom Allah has protected from the bad-smelling house and kept in a fragrant atmosphere will be repulsed from a distance when he gets the bad smell. In the same way, believers whose hearts are devoted to Allah and are clean like a shining mirror are replused from the darkness and abhorrence of sin.

May Allah enable us to enjoin in good and forbid the evil even within our own lives. Ameen.

Friday 5 December 2008

Poetry: To The One Who Bears Me In His Heart

To The One Who Bears Me In His Heart,


What chance do you have of finding me?

Do not look at them! Surely, you are the body that clothes my existence!

Have you become so ignorant that you help others and exile yourself?

That, my friend is your illness, your constant need to gawk into he or she,

You’ve been observing all else so hard that you have completely forgotten me,

The irony of it all is that I am clearer than that which you breathe,

Although I must say my dear, you have left me lonely since you started to admonish.

Nevertheless I am here! I always will be! Like a moth that harnesses itself to the light,

And when that light ceases to glow... synonymous to your insignificant life, I too will go.

But until then, I will be perched, sitting veiled upon your heart,

And when you gaze in the mirror, I advise you to scrutinise the ‘work of art’.


With love,
Your Faults.