Regular Devotions: having a wird...
-We must fill up our time with acts of worship so no period of time passes without being used in some act of goodness.
-This is how we put baraka in our time.
-Imam Al-Ghazali said: "You should structure your time, arrange your regular devotions, and assign to each function a set period of time during which it is given first priority but which it does not overstep. For if you abandon yourself to neglect and purposelessness, as the cattle do, and just do anything that may occur to your at any time it happens to occur to you, most of your time will be the basis of your transactions, and the means to attain to everlasting felicity, in the proximity of God the Exalted. Each of your breaths is a priceless jwel, and when it passes away it never returns"
-Have more than one wird. When you move from one wird to another you escape becoming bored.
-Ibn Ata'illah said: "Because Allah knew of the presence of boredom in you. He created a variety of acts of obedience"
-Being persistent with a wird and repeating it everyday results in illumination of the heart.
-Shaykh Abdur-Rahman As-Saqqaf said: "Whoever has no wird is a qird [moneky]!"
-When choosing a wird one should be moderate and take on something that one can keep up with. The Prophet (pbuh) said: "The acts most pleasing to Allah are the most constant even if few"
-It is Satan's way to entice the seeker at the beginning of his quest to be excessive in his devotional activities, the purpose being to make him retreat. either by giving up acts of goodness altogether, or performing them incorrectly.
-A wird can take the form of:
supererogatory prayers
Quran recitation
aquisition of knowledge
invocation [dhikr]
reflection [fikr]
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
Thursday October 25th
Following the Sunnah (Taken from the book of assistance)
-Adhere to the sunnah, outwardly and inwardly.
-Make the sunnah habitual to you so you will get rewarded for the small actions you do every day, like brushing your teeth, etc.
Some sunnahs we can adhere to in our daily life:
1) Begin everything with "bismillah"
2) Always form a good intention:
-When putting on clothes:
-intend to cover what Allah ordered you to cover.
-Put on your right sleeve first, always start with the right. When taking off clothes start with the left.
-Say: "Praised and thanked be Allah, who clothed me in this garment and granted it me without any ability or power on my part"
3) Utter only words of goodness:
- Everything that's forbidden to say is forbidden to listen to.
-Do not interrupt anyone, unless what they are speaking is a sin: backbiting, etc.
-If someone says something you already know, don't tell them you know it and let them continue their speech.
-Don't get into what doesn't concern you.
-Don't swear by Allah too much, only when necessary.
-Don't say anything ugly.
-Think before you speak. If it's good then say it, if not then stay silent.
Hadith: "Everything that the son of Adam says is against him, not for him, except if it be remembering Allah, enjoining good, or forbidding evil."
4) Walking:
-Walk only to something good or necessary.
-Walk humbly, not too fast and not too slow. The Prophet (pbuh) used to walk powerfully, as if going down hill, he walked with a purpose.
-When called, the Prophet (pbuh) would stop but he wouldn't turn around.
5) Sitting:
-Try to sit in the direction of the Qibla
-Make sure your private parts are covered
-Refrain from fidgeting, excessive scratching, or yawning in people's faces.
-If you do yawn, cover your mouth with your left hand.
-Too much laughter kills the heart, try to convert your laughter into smiles.
-Before you get up say:
"Subhanak Allahumma wa bihamdika, ash-hadu an la ilaha illa anta, astaghfiruka wa atubu ilayk"
"Transcendent are you, O Allah, and praised by Your praises, I bear wintess that there is no God but You, I seek Your forgiveness and repent onto you"
-Whoever says so is forgiven anything sin they may have done while sitting.
6) When sleeping:
-Lay down on your right side
-Face the Qibla
-Repent from the sins of your day
-Intend to wakeup for worship
-Say: "In your name of Allah, my Lord, do I rest my side, and in Your name do I raise it, so forgive me my sin. O Allah, protect me from your chastisement on the day when you gather your servants" (3 times)
-Say: "SubhanAllah" (33 times), "Alhamdulillah" (33 times), and "Allahu Akbar" (34 times).
-Make wudu before you go to bed.
-Don't get use to comfortable beds so you don't sleep too much.
-Take a nap during the day (for 20 minutes or so).
-Avoid sleep after fajr, after asr, and before isha.
-When you see a good dream, thank Allah for it.
-When you see a bad dream: Ask Allah for His protection from evil, spit 3 times to your left side, turn over to your other side, and don't speak about it.
-Recite ayat al-kursi
7) Eating and drinking:
-Always begin with "bismillah"
-Conclude with "Alhamdulillah"
-Eat and drink with your right hand
-Wash your hands before and after eating
-Eat small bites
-Chew well
-Don't read for more food before you swallow what's in your mouth
-Eat from the sides of the bowl and not from the middle
-If you drop food, pick it up, clean it and eat it. Don't leave it for the devil.
-Use your index finger, middle finger and thumb
-Lick your fingers when you're done eating
-Eat from what's infront of you
-Don't speak while food is in your mouth.
-If you need to spit or blow your nose do somewhere else, or at least turn your head away from others.
-When you eat at someone's house praise them and make dua for them
-NEVER criticize food, no matter how bad it is
-Don't make food your prime concern
-Hadith: "The worst of my nation are those who eat luxurious food and their bodies grow on it. Their concern lies only in the different kinds of food and clothing, and they speak pretentiously"
-Sayydina Ali said: "The one whose main concern is what enters his belly is as valuable as that which comes out of it"
-Strive to only eat halal food
-Don't over eat
-Don't eat too often, only eat when you are hungry
When drinking...
-Sip water and don't gulp it down
-Always drink while sitting
-Stop to breathe 3 times while drinking
-Don't breathe into the cup
-Don't drink from a cracked cup
-Don't drink water that was uncovered overnight
8) When using the bathroom:
-Wear shoes when you enter the bathroom
-enter with your left foot, and exit with your right foot
-When entering, say: "In the name of Allah. O Allah, I seek Your protection from male and female demons"
-When exiting, say: "I seek Your forgiveness! Praised be Allah who removed harm from me and make me healthy"
-Do not say Allah's name except in your heart
-Do not take anything with you which has Allah's name
-Speak only when necessary
-Clean yourself with your left hand
-Adhere to the sunnah, outwardly and inwardly.
-Make the sunnah habitual to you so you will get rewarded for the small actions you do every day, like brushing your teeth, etc.
Some sunnahs we can adhere to in our daily life:
1) Begin everything with "bismillah"
2) Always form a good intention:
-When putting on clothes:
-intend to cover what Allah ordered you to cover.
-Put on your right sleeve first, always start with the right. When taking off clothes start with the left.
-Say: "Praised and thanked be Allah, who clothed me in this garment and granted it me without any ability or power on my part"
3) Utter only words of goodness:
- Everything that's forbidden to say is forbidden to listen to.
-Do not interrupt anyone, unless what they are speaking is a sin: backbiting, etc.
-If someone says something you already know, don't tell them you know it and let them continue their speech.
-Don't get into what doesn't concern you.
-Don't swear by Allah too much, only when necessary.
-Don't say anything ugly.
-Think before you speak. If it's good then say it, if not then stay silent.
Hadith: "Everything that the son of Adam says is against him, not for him, except if it be remembering Allah, enjoining good, or forbidding evil."
4) Walking:
-Walk only to something good or necessary.
-Walk humbly, not too fast and not too slow. The Prophet (pbuh) used to walk powerfully, as if going down hill, he walked with a purpose.
-When called, the Prophet (pbuh) would stop but he wouldn't turn around.
5) Sitting:
-Try to sit in the direction of the Qibla
-Make sure your private parts are covered
-Refrain from fidgeting, excessive scratching, or yawning in people's faces.
-If you do yawn, cover your mouth with your left hand.
-Too much laughter kills the heart, try to convert your laughter into smiles.
-Before you get up say:
"Subhanak Allahumma wa bihamdika, ash-hadu an la ilaha illa anta, astaghfiruka wa atubu ilayk"
"Transcendent are you, O Allah, and praised by Your praises, I bear wintess that there is no God but You, I seek Your forgiveness and repent onto you"
-Whoever says so is forgiven anything sin they may have done while sitting.
6) When sleeping:
-Lay down on your right side
-Face the Qibla
-Repent from the sins of your day
-Intend to wakeup for worship
-Say: "In your name of Allah, my Lord, do I rest my side, and in Your name do I raise it, so forgive me my sin. O Allah, protect me from your chastisement on the day when you gather your servants" (3 times)
-Say: "SubhanAllah" (33 times), "Alhamdulillah" (33 times), and "Allahu Akbar" (34 times).
-Make wudu before you go to bed.
-Don't get use to comfortable beds so you don't sleep too much.
-Take a nap during the day (for 20 minutes or so).
-Avoid sleep after fajr, after asr, and before isha.
-When you see a good dream, thank Allah for it.
-When you see a bad dream: Ask Allah for His protection from evil, spit 3 times to your left side, turn over to your other side, and don't speak about it.
-Recite ayat al-kursi
7) Eating and drinking:
-Always begin with "bismillah"
-Conclude with "Alhamdulillah"
-Eat and drink with your right hand
-Wash your hands before and after eating
-Eat small bites
-Chew well
-Don't read for more food before you swallow what's in your mouth
-Eat from the sides of the bowl and not from the middle
-If you drop food, pick it up, clean it and eat it. Don't leave it for the devil.
-Use your index finger, middle finger and thumb
-Lick your fingers when you're done eating
-Eat from what's infront of you
-Don't speak while food is in your mouth.
-If you need to spit or blow your nose do somewhere else, or at least turn your head away from others.
-When you eat at someone's house praise them and make dua for them
-NEVER criticize food, no matter how bad it is
-Don't make food your prime concern
-Hadith: "The worst of my nation are those who eat luxurious food and their bodies grow on it. Their concern lies only in the different kinds of food and clothing, and they speak pretentiously"
-Sayydina Ali said: "The one whose main concern is what enters his belly is as valuable as that which comes out of it"
-Strive to only eat halal food
-Don't over eat
-Don't eat too often, only eat when you are hungry
When drinking...
-Sip water and don't gulp it down
-Always drink while sitting
-Stop to breathe 3 times while drinking
-Don't breathe into the cup
-Don't drink from a cracked cup
-Don't drink water that was uncovered overnight
8) When using the bathroom:
-Wear shoes when you enter the bathroom
-enter with your left foot, and exit with your right foot
-When entering, say: "In the name of Allah. O Allah, I seek Your protection from male and female demons"
-When exiting, say: "I seek Your forgiveness! Praised be Allah who removed harm from me and make me healthy"
-Do not say Allah's name except in your heart
-Do not take anything with you which has Allah's name
-Speak only when necessary
-Clean yourself with your left hand
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Thursday October 18th
Scrupulousness
-Somebody who is scrupulous is someone who is very concerned to avoid doing wrong.
Hadith:
Bukhari and Muslim relate on the authority of Ibn Bashir (r) that the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, "The lawful is clear, and the unlawful is clear. But between the two are ambiguous matters not known to many people. Whosoever avoids these matters, has preserved his honour and his religion intact. But whosoever falls into them shall fall into the unlawful..."
The Prophet (pbuh) was the most scrupulous:
On the authority of Aba Hurayra that the Prophet said: "Sometimes when I return to my family, I find a date on my bed or elsewhere in my house, and raise it to my mouth, but then fear that it might be from someone's charity, so I put it aside." [Despite his absolute poverty, the Blessed Prophet was not permitted to accept charity.]
-The works of those who live on unlawful resources are rejected because Allah is Good and accepts only that which is good.
-Hadith:
"The prayers of a man who buys a garment for ten dirhams one of which is unlawful will not be accepted by Allah as long as he is wearing any part of it"
-If this is the case when it comes to a garment in which 10% of it is bought with unlawful money, what's the case when all of the money used is unlawful?
-And if this is a case with something that is worn, what is the case with the unlawful food we eat that becomes part of our bodies and runs through our veins?
2 categories of the prohibited:
1) Things prohibited in themselves: alcohol, pork, etc.
2) Things that are lawful but are owned by other people, they are prohibited unless given or sold to one.
Degrees of doubtful things:
1) Something you are almost convinced is prohibited but there is a slight chance that it might be lawful. (ex. a turkey sandwich that your classmate gives you. Most likely the turkey is not halal because your friend is not Muslim, but there is a slight chance that it may be halal)
-In this case one must consider the thing prohibited.
2) Something you are almost convinced is lawful but there is a slight chance that it might be prohibited. (ex. some chocolate that you are about to enjoy that has a creamy filling. Most likely the chocolate is halal, however their is a very slight chance that the filling might have alcohol in it. However, you can't check it and you are pretty sure it's safe)
-In this case you are allowed to eat the chocolate. However, it is best to avoid it out of scrupulousness.
3) Something that can be equally halal or haram (50-50 chance). About this the Prophet (pbuh) has said:
"Leave that which is suspect in favor of that which is not".
3 kinds of people we run into:
1) People we know to be good and virtuous, trust them.
-you may eat their food and deal with them without asking
2) People you know nothing about.
-When you deal with such people you should try to ask and inquire about the things they give you, yet you should do it gently. If you feel that they will get hurt by your question then you should avoid it.
3) People you know are wrongdoers.
-You should avoid dealing with such people and if they happen to give you something you should reject it.
This is a quick summary of what we spoke about. Feel free to ask any questions if anything is unclear.
-Somebody who is scrupulous is someone who is very concerned to avoid doing wrong.
Hadith:
Bukhari and Muslim relate on the authority of Ibn Bashir (r) that the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, "The lawful is clear, and the unlawful is clear. But between the two are ambiguous matters not known to many people. Whosoever avoids these matters, has preserved his honour and his religion intact. But whosoever falls into them shall fall into the unlawful..."
The Prophet (pbuh) was the most scrupulous:
On the authority of Aba Hurayra that the Prophet said: "Sometimes when I return to my family, I find a date on my bed or elsewhere in my house, and raise it to my mouth, but then fear that it might be from someone's charity, so I put it aside." [Despite his absolute poverty, the Blessed Prophet was not permitted to accept charity.]
-The works of those who live on unlawful resources are rejected because Allah is Good and accepts only that which is good.
-Hadith:
"The prayers of a man who buys a garment for ten dirhams one of which is unlawful will not be accepted by Allah as long as he is wearing any part of it"
-If this is the case when it comes to a garment in which 10% of it is bought with unlawful money, what's the case when all of the money used is unlawful?
-And if this is a case with something that is worn, what is the case with the unlawful food we eat that becomes part of our bodies and runs through our veins?
2 categories of the prohibited:
1) Things prohibited in themselves: alcohol, pork, etc.
2) Things that are lawful but are owned by other people, they are prohibited unless given or sold to one.
Degrees of doubtful things:
1) Something you are almost convinced is prohibited but there is a slight chance that it might be lawful. (ex. a turkey sandwich that your classmate gives you. Most likely the turkey is not halal because your friend is not Muslim, but there is a slight chance that it may be halal)
-In this case one must consider the thing prohibited.
2) Something you are almost convinced is lawful but there is a slight chance that it might be prohibited. (ex. some chocolate that you are about to enjoy that has a creamy filling. Most likely the chocolate is halal, however their is a very slight chance that the filling might have alcohol in it. However, you can't check it and you are pretty sure it's safe)
-In this case you are allowed to eat the chocolate. However, it is best to avoid it out of scrupulousness.
3) Something that can be equally halal or haram (50-50 chance). About this the Prophet (pbuh) has said:
"Leave that which is suspect in favor of that which is not".
3 kinds of people we run into:
1) People we know to be good and virtuous, trust them.
-you may eat their food and deal with them without asking
2) People you know nothing about.
-When you deal with such people you should try to ask and inquire about the things they give you, yet you should do it gently. If you feel that they will get hurt by your question then you should avoid it.
3) People you know are wrongdoers.
-You should avoid dealing with such people and if they happen to give you something you should reject it.
This is a quick summary of what we spoke about. Feel free to ask any questions if anything is unclear.
Friday, October 19, 2007
October 10th: Iftar & halaqah at Ferozan's
Major signs of the day of judgment
-We started by briefly mentioning some of the minor signs of the day of judgment. We also mentioned how all of the minor signs have happened already and we are waiting for the major signs.
-With the start of the first major sign repentance is no longer accepted. So someone who wants to become Muslim after that point cannot do it, someone who wants to start praying, or someone who wants to start wearing hijab also cannot because the door for repentance will close.
The 6 Major Signs:
1) The sun:
-One day people will wait for the sun to rise as it does every morning but it won't.
-There will be 3 days of complete darkness and eventually the sun will rise from the west.
-This is most likely the first major sign.
-After the sun rises from the west it will remain up for 1 whole year, it will finally set and then rise again and remain for 1 month, then it will set and rise to remain for one whole week after which it will set and then rise for normal length days.
-When the Prophet (pbuh) told this to the sahabah, they asked "How will we pray when the sun remains for a year?". The Prophet told them to estimate the prayer times for each day and pray.
-HADITH: "The day of judgement will not arise until the sun rises from the west. When it rises from the west and people see it, they will all believe. Yet that is when belief will not benefit a person if they hadn't believed before then..." (paraphrased)
-This first sign will happen all of a sudden, no previous warnings.
2) The beast:
-This is an animal that walks on four, it has a lot of hair that people cannot tell its front from its back. It also speaks to people. It is large in size, one of its footsteps goes as far as its eyes can see.
-It comes carrying the stick of Prophet Musa and the ring of Prophet Sulaiman.
-It will touch the disbelievers with Prophet Sulaiman's ring and mark their foreheads with the word "Kafer/non-believer".
-It will touch the believers with Prophet Musa's stick and mark their foreheads with the word "Mu'min/Believer"
-People will refer to each other with their new names at that time. They will call each other: "O Mu'min", or "O Kafir"
3) The smoke:
-The smoke appears everywhere and it hovers over people's heads
-For the disbeliever the smoke will make their heads burn
-For the believers the effect of the smoke will be like they have slight congestion/cold
-Read Surat "Addukhan"
4) The Dajjal:
-He is a human being, said to be Jewish
-He is very tall, has long curly hair
-His right eye is wiped
-His left eye budges out like a grape
-Only the believers see the word "Kafer/non-believer" written on his forehead.
-Reciting the first 4 verses of surah al-Kahf will protect the believers from him
-He will come out during a tough time when there is no food or drink, everyone is hungry... even the believers.
-He will provide food and drink for people and ask them to worship him and they will.
-Only the firm believers will disbelieve in him
-This is a great fitna/tirbulation. Imagine being so hungry and someone comes along and tells you: "I'll give you all the food you need but you have to believe that I am your Lord"... who will stand this test?
-The true believers will refuse to believe in him and their food will be the remembrance of Allah. That's why it's important for us to remember Allah often at times of ease. We cannot all of a sudden start remembering Allah when we need him, it doesn't work that way.
-He will last on earth for 40 days. The first day will be a year long, the second day will be a month long, the third day will be a week long and the rest of the days after that will be normal days.
-He can only be killed by Prophet Isa.
5) Prophet Isa:
-Prophet Isa will descend from the sky in Syria
-He will enter the masjid while the believers are praying the fajr prayer
-He will refuse to lead the people in prayer as it may symbolize that he should be followed. He comes down as a follower of Prophet Muhammad.
-The dajjal will die from smelling Prophet Isa. Prophet Isa's pure and beautiful smell is not something that the dajjal can survive, he will melt like salt when he smells him.
-Prophet Isa will rule the earth for 40 years after the Dajjal.
6) Gog and Magog:
-Gog and Magog are two large tribes of people.
-They have been trapped beneath a wall since the time of Dhul-Qarnayn (Read the story in Surat al-Kahf)
-When they come out their number will be in the millions. They will destroy and eat everything in their way
-No one can stand in their way or fight them
-The only way to get rid of them is by Prophet Isa and the believers dua
-They will make dua on the mountain of "Tur" until Allah sends down a disease that will kill them all
-Allah will then send down birds that have necks that are as long as the necks of camels. These birds will pick up all of the bodies and throw them in the sea.
-Allah will then make the sky rain until the earth is purified from the filth of Gog and Magog
After Gog and magog, people will live peacefully on earth for a while. Children will play with snakes and they will not be harmed, sheep will graze with lions peacefully. Eventually a beautiful smell will come down that will take the souls of all of the believers. Only the non-believers will survive and that is when the day of judgment will occur.
-We started by briefly mentioning some of the minor signs of the day of judgment. We also mentioned how all of the minor signs have happened already and we are waiting for the major signs.
-With the start of the first major sign repentance is no longer accepted. So someone who wants to become Muslim after that point cannot do it, someone who wants to start praying, or someone who wants to start wearing hijab also cannot because the door for repentance will close.
The 6 Major Signs:
1) The sun:
-One day people will wait for the sun to rise as it does every morning but it won't.
-There will be 3 days of complete darkness and eventually the sun will rise from the west.
-This is most likely the first major sign.
-After the sun rises from the west it will remain up for 1 whole year, it will finally set and then rise again and remain for 1 month, then it will set and rise to remain for one whole week after which it will set and then rise for normal length days.
-When the Prophet (pbuh) told this to the sahabah, they asked "How will we pray when the sun remains for a year?". The Prophet told them to estimate the prayer times for each day and pray.
-HADITH: "The day of judgement will not arise until the sun rises from the west. When it rises from the west and people see it, they will all believe. Yet that is when belief will not benefit a person if they hadn't believed before then..." (paraphrased)
-This first sign will happen all of a sudden, no previous warnings.
2) The beast:
-This is an animal that walks on four, it has a lot of hair that people cannot tell its front from its back. It also speaks to people. It is large in size, one of its footsteps goes as far as its eyes can see.
-It comes carrying the stick of Prophet Musa and the ring of Prophet Sulaiman.
-It will touch the disbelievers with Prophet Sulaiman's ring and mark their foreheads with the word "Kafer/non-believer".
-It will touch the believers with Prophet Musa's stick and mark their foreheads with the word "Mu'min/Believer"
-People will refer to each other with their new names at that time. They will call each other: "O Mu'min", or "O Kafir"
3) The smoke:
-The smoke appears everywhere and it hovers over people's heads
-For the disbeliever the smoke will make their heads burn
-For the believers the effect of the smoke will be like they have slight congestion/cold
-Read Surat "Addukhan"
4) The Dajjal:
-He is a human being, said to be Jewish
-He is very tall, has long curly hair
-His right eye is wiped
-His left eye budges out like a grape
-Only the believers see the word "Kafer/non-believer" written on his forehead.
-Reciting the first 4 verses of surah al-Kahf will protect the believers from him
-He will come out during a tough time when there is no food or drink, everyone is hungry... even the believers.
-He will provide food and drink for people and ask them to worship him and they will.
-Only the firm believers will disbelieve in him
-This is a great fitna/tirbulation. Imagine being so hungry and someone comes along and tells you: "I'll give you all the food you need but you have to believe that I am your Lord"... who will stand this test?
-The true believers will refuse to believe in him and their food will be the remembrance of Allah. That's why it's important for us to remember Allah often at times of ease. We cannot all of a sudden start remembering Allah when we need him, it doesn't work that way.
-He will last on earth for 40 days. The first day will be a year long, the second day will be a month long, the third day will be a week long and the rest of the days after that will be normal days.
-He can only be killed by Prophet Isa.
5) Prophet Isa:
-Prophet Isa will descend from the sky in Syria
-He will enter the masjid while the believers are praying the fajr prayer
-He will refuse to lead the people in prayer as it may symbolize that he should be followed. He comes down as a follower of Prophet Muhammad.
-The dajjal will die from smelling Prophet Isa. Prophet Isa's pure and beautiful smell is not something that the dajjal can survive, he will melt like salt when he smells him.
-Prophet Isa will rule the earth for 40 years after the Dajjal.
6) Gog and Magog:
-Gog and Magog are two large tribes of people.
-They have been trapped beneath a wall since the time of Dhul-Qarnayn (Read the story in Surat al-Kahf)
-When they come out their number will be in the millions. They will destroy and eat everything in their way
-No one can stand in their way or fight them
-The only way to get rid of them is by Prophet Isa and the believers dua
-They will make dua on the mountain of "Tur" until Allah sends down a disease that will kill them all
-Allah will then send down birds that have necks that are as long as the necks of camels. These birds will pick up all of the bodies and throw them in the sea.
-Allah will then make the sky rain until the earth is purified from the filth of Gog and Magog
After Gog and magog, people will live peacefully on earth for a while. Children will play with snakes and they will not be harmed, sheep will graze with lions peacefully. Eventually a beautiful smell will come down that will take the souls of all of the believers. Only the non-believers will survive and that is when the day of judgment will occur.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
September 28th
Explanation of Surat al-Qadr (from the tafsir of Ibn Kathir)
Iftar & halaqah at Qudsia & Rubina's house
Surah #97
1. Verily, We have sent it down in the Night of Al-Qadr.
--(We sent it down on a blessed night.) (44:3) This is the Night of Al-Qadr and it occurs during the month of Ramadan.
2. And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr is
--Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah "When Ramadan would come, the Messenger of Allah would say, (Verily, the month of Ramadan has come to you all. It is a blessed month, which Allah has obligated you all to fast. During it the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are shackled. In it there is a night that is better than one thousand months. Whoever is deprived of its good, then he has truly been deprived.)'' An-Nasa'i recorded this same Hadith.
3. The Night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months.
--Aside from the fact that worship during the Night of Al-Qadr is equivalent to worship performed for a period of one thousand months, it is also confirmed in the Two Sahihs from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah said, (Whoever stands (in prayer) during the Night of Al-Qadr with faith and expecting reward (from Allah), he will be forgiven for his previous sins.)
4. Therein descend the angels and the Ruh by their Lord's permission with every matter.
--meaning, the angels descend in abundance during the Night of Al-Qadr due to its abundant blessings. The angels descend with the descending of blessings and mercy, just as they descend when the Qur'an is recited, they surround the circles of Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and they lower their wings with true respect for the student of knowledge. In reference to Ar-Ruh, it is said that here it means the angel Jibril.
5. There is peace until the appearance of dawn.
--"It is security in which Shaytan cannot do any evil or any harm.'' Qatadah and others have said, "The matters are determined during it, and the times of death and provisions are measured out (i.e., decided) during it.''
Specifying the Night of Decree and its Signs
The Messenger of Allah also said:
(Verily, the sign of the Night of Al-Qadr is that it is pure and glowing as if there were a bright, tranquil, calm moon during it. It is not cold, nor is it hot, and no shooting star is permitted until morning. Its sign is that the sun appears on the morning following it smooth having no rays on it, just like the moon on a full moon night. Shaytan is not allowed to come out with it (the sun) on that day.)
The Messenger of Allah also said "It (laylatul qadr) is in every Ramadan".
Iftar & halaqah at Qudsia & Rubina's house
Surah #97
1. Verily, We have sent it down in the Night of Al-Qadr.
--(We sent it down on a blessed night.) (44:3) This is the Night of Al-Qadr and it occurs during the month of Ramadan.
2. And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr is
--Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah "When Ramadan would come, the Messenger of Allah would say, (Verily, the month of Ramadan has come to you all. It is a blessed month, which Allah has obligated you all to fast. During it the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are shackled. In it there is a night that is better than one thousand months. Whoever is deprived of its good, then he has truly been deprived.)'' An-Nasa'i recorded this same Hadith.
3. The Night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months.
--Aside from the fact that worship during the Night of Al-Qadr is equivalent to worship performed for a period of one thousand months, it is also confirmed in the Two Sahihs from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah said, (Whoever stands (in prayer) during the Night of Al-Qadr with faith and expecting reward (from Allah), he will be forgiven for his previous sins.)
4. Therein descend the angels and the Ruh by their Lord's permission with every matter.
--meaning, the angels descend in abundance during the Night of Al-Qadr due to its abundant blessings. The angels descend with the descending of blessings and mercy, just as they descend when the Qur'an is recited, they surround the circles of Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and they lower their wings with true respect for the student of knowledge. In reference to Ar-Ruh, it is said that here it means the angel Jibril.
5. There is peace until the appearance of dawn.
--"It is security in which Shaytan cannot do any evil or any harm.'' Qatadah and others have said, "The matters are determined during it, and the times of death and provisions are measured out (i.e., decided) during it.''
Specifying the Night of Decree and its Signs
This is supported by what Imam Ahmad recorded from `Ubadah bin As-Samit that the Messenger of Allah said:
(The Night of Al-Qadr occurs during the last ten (nights). Whoever stands for them (in prayer) seeking their reward, then indeed Allah will forgive his previous sins and his latter sins. It is an odd night: the ninth, or the seventh, or the fifth, or the third or the last night (of Ramadan).)
The Messenger of Allah also said:
(Verily, the sign of the Night of Al-Qadr is that it is pure and glowing as if there were a bright, tranquil, calm moon during it. It is not cold, nor is it hot, and no shooting star is permitted until morning. Its sign is that the sun appears on the morning following it smooth having no rays on it, just like the moon on a full moon night. Shaytan is not allowed to come out with it (the sun) on that day.)
The Messenger of Allah also said "It (laylatul qadr) is in every Ramadan".
Supplication during the Night of Decree
It is recommended to supplicate often during all times, especially during the month of Ramadan, in the last ten nights, and during the odd nights of it even more so. It is recommended that one say the following supplication a lot: "O Allah! Verily, You are the Oft-Pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon me.'' This is due to what Imam Ahmad recorded from `A'ishah, that she said, "O Messenger of Allah! If I find the Night of Al-Qadr what should I say'' He replied, (Say: "O Allah! Verily, You are the Oft-Pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon me.'') At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah have all recorded this Hadith.
September 20th
Dunya vs. the Hereafter
Halaqah & iftar at sr. Komila's house.
We made a quick comparison between this temporal world and eternal world in jannah or the hellfire. We also spoke about the people of al-Aaraf. Here's an explanation of the verses:
Surah # 7: Al-Aaraf. Verses 46-48 (taken from tafsir of ibn Kathir)
46. And between them will be a (barrier) screen and on Al-A`raf will be men, who would recognize all, by their marks. And they will call out to the dwellers of Paradise, "Peace be on you'' and at that time they will not yet have entered it (Paradise), but they will hope to enter (it).
--(And between them will be a screen) "It is the wall, it is Al-A`raf.'' Mujahid said, "Al-A`raf is a barrier between Paradise and the Fire, a wall that has a gate.'' Ibn Jarir said, "Al-A`raf is plural for `Urf, where every elevated piece of land is known as `Urf to the Arabs.'' As-Suddi said, "Al-A`raf is so named because its residents recognize (Ya`rifun) the people. Al-A`raf's residents are those whose good and bad deeds are equal, as Hudhayfah, Ibn `Abbas, Ibn Mas`ud and several of the Salaf and later generations said.'' Ibn Jarir recorded that Hudhayfah was asked about the people of Al-A`raf and he said, "A people whose good and bad deeds are equal. Their evil deeds prevented them from qualifying to enter Paradise, and their good deeds qualified them to avoid the Fire. Therefore, they are stopped there on the wall until Allah judges them.''
47. And when their eyes will be turned towards the dwellers of the Fire, they will say: "Our Lord! Place us not with the people who are wrongdoers.''
--Ad-Dahhak reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "When the people of Al-A`raf look at the people of the Fire and recognize them, they will supplicate, `O Lord! Do not place us with the people who are wrongdoers.''
48. And the men on Al-A`raf will call unto the men whom they would recognize by their marks, saying: "Of what benefit to you was your gathering, and your arrogance'') (49. "Are they those, of whom you swore that Allah would never show them mercy (Behold! It has been said to them): `Enter Paradise, no fear shall be on you, nor shall you grieve.'
--Allah states that the people of Al-A`raf will admonish some of the chiefs of the idolators whom they recognize by their marks in the Fire, saying, ("Of what benefit to you was your gathering...'') meaning, your great numbers.
--(Are they those, of whom you swore that Allah would never show them mercy) refers to the people of Al-A`raf who will be told when Allah decrees: "Behold! It has been said to them): "Enter Paradise, no fear shall be on you, nor shall you grieve.''
__________________________________________
The people of al-Aaraf will be eventually entered into Jannah out of Allah's mercy.
Halaqah & iftar at sr. Komila's house.
We made a quick comparison between this temporal world and eternal world in jannah or the hellfire. We also spoke about the people of al-Aaraf. Here's an explanation of the verses:
Surah # 7: Al-Aaraf. Verses 46-48 (taken from tafsir of ibn Kathir)
46. And between them will be a (barrier) screen and on Al-A`raf will be men, who would recognize all, by their marks. And they will call out to the dwellers of Paradise, "Peace be on you'' and at that time they will not yet have entered it (Paradise), but they will hope to enter (it).
--(And between them will be a screen) "It is the wall, it is Al-A`raf.'' Mujahid said, "Al-A`raf is a barrier between Paradise and the Fire, a wall that has a gate.'' Ibn Jarir said, "Al-A`raf is plural for `Urf, where every elevated piece of land is known as `Urf to the Arabs.'' As-Suddi said, "Al-A`raf is so named because its residents recognize (Ya`rifun) the people. Al-A`raf's residents are those whose good and bad deeds are equal, as Hudhayfah, Ibn `Abbas, Ibn Mas`ud and several of the Salaf and later generations said.'' Ibn Jarir recorded that Hudhayfah was asked about the people of Al-A`raf and he said, "A people whose good and bad deeds are equal. Their evil deeds prevented them from qualifying to enter Paradise, and their good deeds qualified them to avoid the Fire. Therefore, they are stopped there on the wall until Allah judges them.''
47. And when their eyes will be turned towards the dwellers of the Fire, they will say: "Our Lord! Place us not with the people who are wrongdoers.''
--Ad-Dahhak reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "When the people of Al-A`raf look at the people of the Fire and recognize them, they will supplicate, `O Lord! Do not place us with the people who are wrongdoers.''
48. And the men on Al-A`raf will call unto the men whom they would recognize by their marks, saying: "Of what benefit to you was your gathering, and your arrogance'') (49. "Are they those, of whom you swore that Allah would never show them mercy (Behold! It has been said to them): `Enter Paradise, no fear shall be on you, nor shall you grieve.'
--Allah states that the people of Al-A`raf will admonish some of the chiefs of the idolators whom they recognize by their marks in the Fire, saying, ("Of what benefit to you was your gathering...'') meaning, your great numbers.
--(Are they those, of whom you swore that Allah would never show them mercy) refers to the people of Al-A`raf who will be told when Allah decrees: "Behold! It has been said to them): "Enter Paradise, no fear shall be on you, nor shall you grieve.''
__________________________________________
The people of al-Aaraf will be eventually entered into Jannah out of Allah's mercy.
September 15th
Halaqah, iftar, & taraweeh at sr. Alema's house. If you have notes from this halaqah please send them to me and I will post them.
jazakumAllah khair!
Dana
jazakumAllah khair!
Dana
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
September 6th: Ramadan
Preparation for Ramadan
Aya: 'O you who believe, prescribed for you is the Fast, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that haply you will have taqwa.' Qur`an 2:183
Hadith: 'A great month, a blessed month, a month containing a night which is better than a thousand months has approached you people. Allah has appointed the observance of fasting during it as an obligatory duty, and the passing of its nights in prayer as a voluntary practice. If someone draws near to Allah during it with some good act he will be like one who fulfills an obligatory duty in another month, and he who fulfills an obligatory duty in it will be like one who fulfills seventy obligatory duties in some other month. It is the month of endurance, and the reward of endurance is paradise. It is the month of sharing with others, and a month in which the believer's provision is increased. If someone gives one who has been fasting something with which to break his fast it will provide forgiveness of his wrong actions and save him from the Fire, and he will have a reward equal to the fasting man's reward without his reward being diminished in any way... Allah gives this reward to anyone who gives one who has been fasting some milk mixed with water, or a date, or a drink of water with which to break his fast, and anyone who gives a full meal to one who has been fasting will be given a drink by Allah and will not thirst until he enters Paradise. It is a month whose beginning is mercy, whose middle is forgiveness, and whose end is freedom from the Fire. If anyone makes things easy for his slave during it, Allah will forgive him and free him from the Fire.'
From a khutba (sermon) given by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, on the last day of Shaban. - Reported by Sayyiduna Salman al-Farsi (Mishkat al Masabih).
-The gates of the Garden are open
-The gates of the Fire are shut
-The devils are shackled
-Our soul is imprisoned by hunger and thirst. There are no distractions from worship.
-Every night a herald calls out at Allah’s command: “O you who wish for goodness, hasten (come forth)! And O you who wish for evil, halt!”
-What’s our response to this call?
-Increase your good works. The reward of a sunna/extra act of worship is equal to an obligatory act performed outside of Ramadan.
-Ramadan is a time when good deeds are easy to do and one has much more energy for them than during any other time of year.
-During this month try to dedicate all of your extra time to worship. Everything you do should be an act of worship, even your studying and your work. Refrain from worldly matters unless absolutely necessary.
-Prepare yourself in these last few days for worship.
-Try your best to pray taraweeh every night.
-Watch carefully for laylatul Qadr (the night of destiny) which is better than a thousand months.
-some scholars say it’s the night of the 27th
-others say it’s the 17th
-more commonly it’s said to be in the last 10 nights,
especially on an odd night.
-The point is to worship Allah every night of the month in hopes to find this blessed night.
Some sunnahs to observe:
-Hasten to break your fast when you are sure the sun has set
-Delay your suhur til about 15 minutes before fajr
-Feed the people who are fasting at the time they break their fast (even if it’s just a date!)
-Do not eat much because the purpose of fasting is to subdue our desires for food, not to indulge them.
Hadith: “The one who fasts has two joys, one when breaking his fast, the other when meeting his Lord”
Hadith: “The odor of the fasting man’s mouth is more fragrant to Allah than that of musk”
Six benefits of Ramadan:
1) Forgiveness of all previous sins
2) Freedom from the hellfire. The Prophet said that there are people freed from the hellfire every night in Ramadan.
3) Dua is answered.
4) The night of power (laylat al-qadr)
5) Allah’s happiness with His servants. Hadith: “All good deeds of the son of Adam are multiplied ten to seven hundredfold, except fasting, for it is Mine, and I shall reward a man for it, for he has left his appetite, his food and drink for My sake!”
6) Multiplied rewards: sunnah counts as fard. And the fard counts as 70 times.
Six ways to attain Ramadan benefits:
1) The Quran: every single letter is a reward. Ramadan is the month of the quran.
2) Sadaqah: The Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wasallam) was the most generous in Ramadan.
3) Maintaining kinship ties.
4) Dua: Prepare 5-6 duas and repeat them every day.
5) Taraweeh and qiyam
6) Salah in the masjid
-Use your youth and energy to make this the best Ramadan you ever had. We never know what’s going to happen to us by next year.
Aya: 'O you who believe, prescribed for you is the Fast, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that haply you will have taqwa.' Qur`an 2:183
Hadith: 'A great month, a blessed month, a month containing a night which is better than a thousand months has approached you people. Allah has appointed the observance of fasting during it as an obligatory duty, and the passing of its nights in prayer as a voluntary practice. If someone draws near to Allah during it with some good act he will be like one who fulfills an obligatory duty in another month, and he who fulfills an obligatory duty in it will be like one who fulfills seventy obligatory duties in some other month. It is the month of endurance, and the reward of endurance is paradise. It is the month of sharing with others, and a month in which the believer's provision is increased. If someone gives one who has been fasting something with which to break his fast it will provide forgiveness of his wrong actions and save him from the Fire, and he will have a reward equal to the fasting man's reward without his reward being diminished in any way... Allah gives this reward to anyone who gives one who has been fasting some milk mixed with water, or a date, or a drink of water with which to break his fast, and anyone who gives a full meal to one who has been fasting will be given a drink by Allah and will not thirst until he enters Paradise. It is a month whose beginning is mercy, whose middle is forgiveness, and whose end is freedom from the Fire. If anyone makes things easy for his slave during it, Allah will forgive him and free him from the Fire.'
From a khutba (sermon) given by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, on the last day of Shaban. - Reported by Sayyiduna Salman al-Farsi (Mishkat al Masabih).
-The gates of the Garden are open
-The gates of the Fire are shut
-The devils are shackled
-Our soul is imprisoned by hunger and thirst. There are no distractions from worship.
-Every night a herald calls out at Allah’s command: “O you who wish for goodness, hasten (come forth)! And O you who wish for evil, halt!”
-What’s our response to this call?
-Increase your good works. The reward of a sunna/extra act of worship is equal to an obligatory act performed outside of Ramadan.
-Ramadan is a time when good deeds are easy to do and one has much more energy for them than during any other time of year.
-During this month try to dedicate all of your extra time to worship. Everything you do should be an act of worship, even your studying and your work. Refrain from worldly matters unless absolutely necessary.
-Prepare yourself in these last few days for worship.
-Try your best to pray taraweeh every night.
-Watch carefully for laylatul Qadr (the night of destiny) which is better than a thousand months.
-some scholars say it’s the night of the 27th
-others say it’s the 17th
-more commonly it’s said to be in the last 10 nights,
especially on an odd night.
-The point is to worship Allah every night of the month in hopes to find this blessed night.
Some sunnahs to observe:
-Hasten to break your fast when you are sure the sun has set
-Delay your suhur til about 15 minutes before fajr
-Feed the people who are fasting at the time they break their fast (even if it’s just a date!)
-Do not eat much because the purpose of fasting is to subdue our desires for food, not to indulge them.
Hadith: “The one who fasts has two joys, one when breaking his fast, the other when meeting his Lord”
Hadith: “The odor of the fasting man’s mouth is more fragrant to Allah than that of musk”
Six benefits of Ramadan:
1) Forgiveness of all previous sins
2) Freedom from the hellfire. The Prophet said that there are people freed from the hellfire every night in Ramadan.
3) Dua is answered.
4) The night of power (laylat al-qadr)
5) Allah’s happiness with His servants. Hadith: “All good deeds of the son of Adam are multiplied ten to seven hundredfold, except fasting, for it is Mine, and I shall reward a man for it, for he has left his appetite, his food and drink for My sake!”
6) Multiplied rewards: sunnah counts as fard. And the fard counts as 70 times.
Six ways to attain Ramadan benefits:
1) The Quran: every single letter is a reward. Ramadan is the month of the quran.
2) Sadaqah: The Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wasallam) was the most generous in Ramadan.
3) Maintaining kinship ties.
4) Dua: Prepare 5-6 duas and repeat them every day.
5) Taraweeh and qiyam
6) Salah in the masjid
-Use your youth and energy to make this the best Ramadan you ever had. We never know what’s going to happen to us by next year.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
August 23rd: Fasting
by sr. Hajira Ali
Does anyone have good notes from this halaqah? Please email them to me so I can post them inshaAllah...
salam,
Dana
Does anyone have good notes from this halaqah? Please email them to me so I can post them inshaAllah...
salam,
Dana
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
August 16th: Verses from Surat Al-Furqan
Surat Al-Furqan (63-77)
The Attributes of the Servants of the Most Gracious
Verse 63:
-And the servants of the Most Gracious are those who walk on the earth Hawna, and when the foolish address them they say; "Salama.''
-Those are the beloved servants to Allah
-meaning that they walk with dignity and humility, not with arrogance and pride.
-Aya: (And walk not on the earth with conceit and arrogance...) (17:37)
-Hadith: (When you come to the prayer, do not come rushing in haste. Come calmly and with tranquility, and whatever you catch up with, pray, and whatever you miss, make it up.)
-If the ignorant people insult them with bad words, they do not respond in kind, but they forgive and overlook, and say nothing but good words. This is what the Messenger of Allah did: the more ignorant the people, the more patient he would be.
Verse 64:
-And those who spend the night in worship of their Lord, prostrate and standing.
-Notice that prostration is mentioned before standing because it’s more superior.
-Notice that they are always in a state of worship, day and night.
-Aya: (They used to sleep but little by night. And in the hours before dawn, they were asking for forgiveness) (51:17-18).
Verse 65:
-And those who say: "Our Lord! Avert from us the torment of Hell. Verily, its torment is ever an inseparable, permanent punishment.''
-“gharamaa” meaning, ever-present and never ending.
Verse 66:
-Evil indeed it is as an abode and as a place to rest in.
Verse 67:
-And those who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor stingy, but are in a just balance between them.
-They are not extravagant (in food, drink, clothing, etc), spending more than they need, nor are they miserly towards their families, not spending enough on their needs. But they follow the best and fairest way. The best of matters are those which are moderate, neither one extreme nor the other.
-Aya: (And let not your hand be tied to your neck, nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach.)(17:29)
Verse 68:
-And those who invoke not any other god along with Allah
-Hadith: "The Messenger of Allah was asked which sin is the most serious'' He said: (That you appoint a rival to Allah when He has created you.) He asked, "Then what'' He said: (That you kill your child for fear that he may eat with you.) He said, "Then what'' He said: (That you commit adultery with your neighbor's wife.) Then this aya was revealed.
-nor kill such person as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause,
-nor commit illegal sexual intercourse -- and whoever does this shall receive Athama.
-“aathama”: could be a valley in hellfire for the punishment of adulterers, or it could just refer to punishment in general.
Verse 69:
- The torment will be doubled for him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace
Verse 70:
- Except those who repent and believe, and do righteous deeds; for those, Allah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
-those who repent in this world to Allah from all of those deeds, for then Allah will accept their repentance. This is evidence that the repentance of the murderer is acceptable.
-Aya: (Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him, but He forgives except that to whom He wills) (4:48)
Verse 71:
- And whosoever repents and does righteous good deeds; then indeed he has repented to Allah Mataba.
-Hadith: (I know the last person who will be brought forth from Hell, and the last person who will enter Paradise. A man will be brought and it will be said, "Take away his major sins and ask him about his minor sins.'' So it will be said to him: "On such and such a day, you did such and such, and on such and such a day, you did such and such.'' He will say, "Yes, and he will not be able to deny anything.'' Then it will be said to him: "For every evil deed you now have one good merit.'' He will say: "O Lord, I did things that I do not see here.'') He (Abu Dharr) said: "And the Messenger of Allah smiled so broadly that his molars could be seen.'' Muslim recorded it.
-Aya: (And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah's forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful) (4:110).
Verse 72:
- And those who do not bear witness to falsehood, and if they pass by some evil play or evil talk, they pass by it with dignity.
- refers to giving false testimony, which means lying deliberately to someone else.
- They do not attend where falsehood occurs, and if it so happens that they pass by it, they do not let it contaminate them in the slightest.
Verse 73:
-And those who, when they are reminded of the Ayat of their Lord (when advice is given to them), fall not deaf and blind thereat.
-Aya: (Those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Ayat are recited unto them, they increase their faith; and they put their trust in their Lord.) (8:2)
-Unlike the disbelievers. When they hear the Words of Allah, they are not affected by them or moved to change their ways. They persist in their disbelief, wrongdoing, ignorance and misguidance.
Verse 74:
-And those who say: "Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders of those who have Taqwa.''
-means those who ask Allah to bring forth from their loins offspring who will obey Him and worship Him and not associate anything in worship with Him. Ibn `Abbas said, "This means (offspring) who will strive to obey Allah and bring them joy in this world and the Hereafter.
-Hadith: (When a son of Adam dies, his deeds cease apart from three: a righteous child who will pray for him, knowledge from which others may benefit after him, or ongoing charity.)
Verse 75:
-Those will be rewarded with the highest place because of their patience. Therein they shall be met with greetings and the word of peace and respect.
-“Al-ghurfah”: is jannah, the high place.
-Kinds of patience:
1) with tests
2) avoiding sin
3) doing good
-This means that they will be greeted first with words of welcome and honor. Peace will be theirs and they will be wished peace. And angels shall enter unto them from every gate, saying, "Peace be upon you for that you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!''
Verse 76:
- Abiding therein -- excellent it is as an abode, and as a place to rest in.
Verse 77:
-Say O Muhammad: "My Lord pays attention to you only because of your invocation to Him. But now you have indeed denied. So the torment will be yours forever.''
-meaning, He would not care to pay attention to you if you did not worship Him, for He only created mankind to worship Him Alone and to glorify Him morning and evening.
-then Allah addresses the disbelievers: So your denial will remain with you forever, i.e., it will lead to your punishment, doom and destruction in this world and the Hereafter.
The Attributes of the Servants of the Most Gracious
Verse 63:
-And the servants of the Most Gracious are those who walk on the earth Hawna, and when the foolish address them they say; "Salama.''
-Those are the beloved servants to Allah
-meaning that they walk with dignity and humility, not with arrogance and pride.
-Aya: (And walk not on the earth with conceit and arrogance...) (17:37)
-Hadith: (When you come to the prayer, do not come rushing in haste. Come calmly and with tranquility, and whatever you catch up with, pray, and whatever you miss, make it up.)
-If the ignorant people insult them with bad words, they do not respond in kind, but they forgive and overlook, and say nothing but good words. This is what the Messenger of Allah did: the more ignorant the people, the more patient he would be.
Verse 64:
-And those who spend the night in worship of their Lord, prostrate and standing.
-Notice that prostration is mentioned before standing because it’s more superior.
-Notice that they are always in a state of worship, day and night.
-Aya: (They used to sleep but little by night. And in the hours before dawn, they were asking for forgiveness) (51:17-18).
Verse 65:
-And those who say: "Our Lord! Avert from us the torment of Hell. Verily, its torment is ever an inseparable, permanent punishment.''
-“gharamaa” meaning, ever-present and never ending.
Verse 66:
-Evil indeed it is as an abode and as a place to rest in.
Verse 67:
-And those who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor stingy, but are in a just balance between them.
-They are not extravagant (in food, drink, clothing, etc), spending more than they need, nor are they miserly towards their families, not spending enough on their needs. But they follow the best and fairest way. The best of matters are those which are moderate, neither one extreme nor the other.
-Aya: (And let not your hand be tied to your neck, nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach.)(17:29)
Verse 68:
-And those who invoke not any other god along with Allah
-Hadith: "The Messenger of Allah was asked which sin is the most serious'' He said: (That you appoint a rival to Allah when He has created you.) He asked, "Then what'' He said: (That you kill your child for fear that he may eat with you.) He said, "Then what'' He said: (That you commit adultery with your neighbor's wife.) Then this aya was revealed.
-nor kill such person as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause,
-nor commit illegal sexual intercourse -- and whoever does this shall receive Athama.
-“aathama”: could be a valley in hellfire for the punishment of adulterers, or it could just refer to punishment in general.
Verse 69:
- The torment will be doubled for him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace
Verse 70:
- Except those who repent and believe, and do righteous deeds; for those, Allah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
-those who repent in this world to Allah from all of those deeds, for then Allah will accept their repentance. This is evidence that the repentance of the murderer is acceptable.
-Aya: (Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him, but He forgives except that to whom He wills) (4:48)
Verse 71:
- And whosoever repents and does righteous good deeds; then indeed he has repented to Allah Mataba.
-Hadith: (I know the last person who will be brought forth from Hell, and the last person who will enter Paradise. A man will be brought and it will be said, "Take away his major sins and ask him about his minor sins.'' So it will be said to him: "On such and such a day, you did such and such, and on such and such a day, you did such and such.'' He will say, "Yes, and he will not be able to deny anything.'' Then it will be said to him: "For every evil deed you now have one good merit.'' He will say: "O Lord, I did things that I do not see here.'') He (Abu Dharr) said: "And the Messenger of Allah smiled so broadly that his molars could be seen.'' Muslim recorded it.
-Aya: (And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah's forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful) (4:110).
Verse 72:
- And those who do not bear witness to falsehood, and if they pass by some evil play or evil talk, they pass by it with dignity.
- refers to giving false testimony, which means lying deliberately to someone else.
- They do not attend where falsehood occurs, and if it so happens that they pass by it, they do not let it contaminate them in the slightest.
Verse 73:
-And those who, when they are reminded of the Ayat of their Lord (when advice is given to them), fall not deaf and blind thereat.
-Aya: (Those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Ayat are recited unto them, they increase their faith; and they put their trust in their Lord.) (8:2)
-Unlike the disbelievers. When they hear the Words of Allah, they are not affected by them or moved to change their ways. They persist in their disbelief, wrongdoing, ignorance and misguidance.
Verse 74:
-And those who say: "Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders of those who have Taqwa.''
-means those who ask Allah to bring forth from their loins offspring who will obey Him and worship Him and not associate anything in worship with Him. Ibn `Abbas said, "This means (offspring) who will strive to obey Allah and bring them joy in this world and the Hereafter.
-Hadith: (When a son of Adam dies, his deeds cease apart from three: a righteous child who will pray for him, knowledge from which others may benefit after him, or ongoing charity.)
Verse 75:
-Those will be rewarded with the highest place because of their patience. Therein they shall be met with greetings and the word of peace and respect.
-“Al-ghurfah”: is jannah, the high place.
-Kinds of patience:
1) with tests
2) avoiding sin
3) doing good
-This means that they will be greeted first with words of welcome and honor. Peace will be theirs and they will be wished peace. And angels shall enter unto them from every gate, saying, "Peace be upon you for that you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!''
Verse 76:
- Abiding therein -- excellent it is as an abode, and as a place to rest in.
Verse 77:
-Say O Muhammad: "My Lord pays attention to you only because of your invocation to Him. But now you have indeed denied. So the torment will be yours forever.''
-meaning, He would not care to pay attention to you if you did not worship Him, for He only created mankind to worship Him Alone and to glorify Him morning and evening.
-then Allah addresses the disbelievers: So your denial will remain with you forever, i.e., it will lead to your punishment, doom and destruction in this world and the Hereafter.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
August 9th: Surat Al-Qiyamah
Surat Al-Qiyamah
Verse 1:
-Nay! I swear by the Day of Resurrection
Verse 2:
-And nay! I swear by An-Nafs Al-Lawwamah
-This is the nafs of the believer, the nafs that blames oneself for leaving an act of worship or committing a sin.
Verse 3:
-Does man think that We shall not assemble his bones
Verse 4:
-Yes, We are able to put together in perfect order the tips of his fingers.
- One of the kuffar came to the Prophet (pbuh) and told him: How does Allah re-assemble bones?!
-This aya came as an answer to him. Not only is Allah capable of re-assembling bones but He will resurrect the smallest details like out finger prints (each person has a unique finger print).
Verse 5:
-Meaning that indeed the human being wants to continue with his unrighteousness with this denial of resurrection.
-He wants to set out like an animal, following his desires. That’s why he denies the day of judgment.
Verse 6:
-He asks: "When will be this Day of Resurrection''
-Their question is one of mockery here.
Verse 7:
-So when their eyesight strayed in all directions
-Meaning when they see the horrors of judgment day.
Verse 8:
-And the moon will be eclipsed.
Verse 9:
- And the sun and moon will be joined together.
Verse 10:
- On that Day man will say: "Where (is the refuge) to flee''
- This is said in desperation because it’s obvious that there’s nowhere to flee.
Verse 11:
- No! There is no refuge!
Verse 12:
- Unto your Lord will be the place of rest that Day.
- There’s no where to run from Allah but to Him.
Verse 13:
- On that Day man will be informed of what he sent forward, and what he left behind.
-Meaning that we will be told of all our deeds, small and big… the ones we did while alive and the ones we attained after death (because of a good or bad sunnah we started).
Verse 14:
- Nay! Man will be a witness against himself.
-It will be said to us: "Read your book. You are sufficient as a reckoner against yourself this Day.'' (al-isra 14)
Verse 15:
- Even if he put forth any excuse he could think of.
- "This means, even though he argues in defense of it, he is a witness against it.''
How the Prophet received the Revelation
Allah is teaching His Messenger how to receive the revelation from the Gibril. For verily, he (the Prophet ) was rushing in his attempts to grasp the revelation and he would be reciting the revelation with the angel while he was reciting it. Therefore, Allah commanded him that when the angel brings some revelation to him he should just listen. Allah would make sure to collect it in his chest, and He would make it easy for him to recite it in the same way that it was revealed to him. Allah would explain it, interpret it and clarify it for him. So the first phase was gathering it in his chest, the second phase was recitation and the third phase was its explanation and clarification of its meaning.
Verse 16:
-Don’t move your tongue by repeating the revelation to hasten your memorization to it
Verse 17:
-It is upon Us to gather it in your chest so you memorize it
Verse 18:
-And when We have recited it to you, then follow its recitation.
-Meaning that when Jibril is reciting it upon you, listen until he is done and pay attention.
Verse 19:
-Then it is for Us to make it clear.
-Allah here is telling the Prophet (pbuh) that He will make the Quran clear to him afterwards.
-After this, the Prophet (pbuh) would listen quietly and then he’d be able to recite the verses just as Allah promised him.
-Al-Bukhari's wording says, "So whenever Jibril would come to him he would be silent, and when Jibril had left he would recite it just as Allah, the Mighty and Sublime had promised him.''
The Cause of rejecting the Day of Judgement is Love of the World and Heedlessness of the Hereafter:
Verse 20:
-But no! Rather you love the present life of this world,
Verse 21:
-And neglect the Hereafter.
-meaning, the only thing that has caused them to reject the Day of Judgement and oppose the true revelation and the Mighty Qur'an Allah revealed to His Messenger is that their only concern is the present worldly life. They are preoccupied and distracted from the Hereafter.
Verse 22:
-Some faces that Day shall be Radiant
Verse 23:
-Looking at their Lord
-Al-Bukhari in his Sahih: (Verily, you all will see your Lord with your own eyes.)
-Recorded in Sahih Muslim: (When the people of Paradise enter the Paradise, Allah will say, `Do you want me to give you anything extra' They will say, `Haven't you whitened our faces Haven't you entered us into Paradise and saved us from the Fire' Then He will remove the veil and they will not be given anything more beloved to them than looking at their Lord, and that will be the extra (Ziyadah).)
Verse 24:
-And some faces that Day will be gloomy
-Faces of the sinners
Verse 25:
-Thinking that some calamity is about to fall on them.
- “tathunnu”: they are certain that they will be destroyed.
-Allah (swt) says in surat Al-Imran: (On the Day when some faces will become white and some faces will become black.) (3:106)
Certainty will occur at the Time of Death:
Verse 26:
-Nay, when it reaches to the collarbones
Verse 27:
-And it will be said: "Who can cure him''
-This marks the beginning of eternal life
Verse 28:
-And he will think that it was the parting
-Meaning, that the person will know that their time of death has come.
Verse 29:
-And one shank will be joined with another shank.
-Meaning that one leg will wrap around the other one. This could be out of fear of what’s going to happen.. or it could be referring to how the legs are wrapped in the shroud.
Verse 30:
-The drive will be on that Day to your Lord!
-Meaning that everyone will be brought for judgment infront of Allah (swt).
Mentioning the Case of the Denier:
Verse 31:
-So, he neither believed nor prayed!
-This is to inform about the disbeliever who used to deny the truth in his heart in the abode of this worldly life, and he used to turn away from acting according to its way.
Verse 32:
-But on the contrary, he denied and turned away!
Verse 33:
-Then he walked in conceit to his family admiring himself!
-Allah also says: (Verily, he was among his people in joy! Verily, he thought that he would never come back (to Us)!) (84:13,14)
-“yatammatta”: some scholars say that these verses refer to abu Jahl, he used to walk very arrogantly.
Verse 34:
-Woe to you! And then woe to you!
Verse 35:
-Again, woe to you! And then woe to you!
-This is a definite warning and threat from Allah to those who disbelieve in Him and strut about when walking.
-The Prophet (pbuh) said this to abu Jahl..then the verses were revealved.
-Abu Jahl’s response: `Are you threatening me, O Muhammad By Allah! Neither you nor your Lord are able to do anything, and verily, I am the mightiest person walking between its (Makkah's) two mountains.'
Now the surah goes back to it’s beginning topic, the resurrection:
Verse 36:
-Does man think that he will be left neglected
-Meaning, not resurrected? Not commanded during life and prohibited, etc?
-We’re not left alone even in the grave.
Verse 37:
-Was he not a Nutfah of semen emitted
-meaning, was not man a weak drop of sperm from a despised fluid known as semen, that is emitted from the loins into the wombs
-reflect on our origin.
Verse 38:
-Then he became an `Alaqah; then shaped and fashioned in due proportion.
Verse 39:
-And made of him two sexes, male and female.)
-meaning, he became a clot, then a lump of flesh, then he was formed and the soul was blown into him. Then he became a perfect creation with healthy limbs, as either a male or a female by the permission and decree of Allah.
Verse 40:
-Is it not so then, that He would be able to give life to the dead
-meaning, is not He Who made this perfect creation from this weak drop of sperm able to repeat that as He did originally
-At this, the Prophet (pbuh) used to say:`Glory to You, of course.'
Verse 1:
-Nay! I swear by the Day of Resurrection
Verse 2:
-And nay! I swear by An-Nafs Al-Lawwamah
-This is the nafs of the believer, the nafs that blames oneself for leaving an act of worship or committing a sin.
Verse 3:
-Does man think that We shall not assemble his bones
Verse 4:
-Yes, We are able to put together in perfect order the tips of his fingers.
- One of the kuffar came to the Prophet (pbuh) and told him: How does Allah re-assemble bones?!
-This aya came as an answer to him. Not only is Allah capable of re-assembling bones but He will resurrect the smallest details like out finger prints (each person has a unique finger print).
Verse 5:
-Meaning that indeed the human being wants to continue with his unrighteousness with this denial of resurrection.
-He wants to set out like an animal, following his desires. That’s why he denies the day of judgment.
Verse 6:
-He asks: "When will be this Day of Resurrection''
-Their question is one of mockery here.
Verse 7:
-So when their eyesight strayed in all directions
-Meaning when they see the horrors of judgment day.
Verse 8:
-And the moon will be eclipsed.
Verse 9:
- And the sun and moon will be joined together.
Verse 10:
- On that Day man will say: "Where (is the refuge) to flee''
- This is said in desperation because it’s obvious that there’s nowhere to flee.
Verse 11:
- No! There is no refuge!
Verse 12:
- Unto your Lord will be the place of rest that Day.
- There’s no where to run from Allah but to Him.
Verse 13:
- On that Day man will be informed of what he sent forward, and what he left behind.
-Meaning that we will be told of all our deeds, small and big… the ones we did while alive and the ones we attained after death (because of a good or bad sunnah we started).
Verse 14:
- Nay! Man will be a witness against himself.
-It will be said to us: "Read your book. You are sufficient as a reckoner against yourself this Day.'' (al-isra 14)
Verse 15:
- Even if he put forth any excuse he could think of.
- "This means, even though he argues in defense of it, he is a witness against it.''
How the Prophet received the Revelation
Allah is teaching His Messenger how to receive the revelation from the Gibril. For verily, he (the Prophet ) was rushing in his attempts to grasp the revelation and he would be reciting the revelation with the angel while he was reciting it. Therefore, Allah commanded him that when the angel brings some revelation to him he should just listen. Allah would make sure to collect it in his chest, and He would make it easy for him to recite it in the same way that it was revealed to him. Allah would explain it, interpret it and clarify it for him. So the first phase was gathering it in his chest, the second phase was recitation and the third phase was its explanation and clarification of its meaning.
Verse 16:
-Don’t move your tongue by repeating the revelation to hasten your memorization to it
Verse 17:
-It is upon Us to gather it in your chest so you memorize it
Verse 18:
-And when We have recited it to you, then follow its recitation.
-Meaning that when Jibril is reciting it upon you, listen until he is done and pay attention.
Verse 19:
-Then it is for Us to make it clear.
-Allah here is telling the Prophet (pbuh) that He will make the Quran clear to him afterwards.
-After this, the Prophet (pbuh) would listen quietly and then he’d be able to recite the verses just as Allah promised him.
-Al-Bukhari's wording says, "So whenever Jibril would come to him he would be silent, and when Jibril had left he would recite it just as Allah, the Mighty and Sublime had promised him.''
The Cause of rejecting the Day of Judgement is Love of the World and Heedlessness of the Hereafter:
Verse 20:
-But no! Rather you love the present life of this world,
Verse 21:
-And neglect the Hereafter.
-meaning, the only thing that has caused them to reject the Day of Judgement and oppose the true revelation and the Mighty Qur'an Allah revealed to His Messenger is that their only concern is the present worldly life. They are preoccupied and distracted from the Hereafter.
Verse 22:
-Some faces that Day shall be Radiant
Verse 23:
-Looking at their Lord
-Al-Bukhari in his Sahih: (Verily, you all will see your Lord with your own eyes.)
-Recorded in Sahih Muslim: (When the people of Paradise enter the Paradise, Allah will say, `Do you want me to give you anything extra' They will say, `Haven't you whitened our faces Haven't you entered us into Paradise and saved us from the Fire' Then He will remove the veil and they will not be given anything more beloved to them than looking at their Lord, and that will be the extra (Ziyadah).)
Verse 24:
-And some faces that Day will be gloomy
-Faces of the sinners
Verse 25:
-Thinking that some calamity is about to fall on them.
- “tathunnu”: they are certain that they will be destroyed.
-Allah (swt) says in surat Al-Imran: (On the Day when some faces will become white and some faces will become black.) (3:106)
Certainty will occur at the Time of Death:
Verse 26:
-Nay, when it reaches to the collarbones
Verse 27:
-And it will be said: "Who can cure him''
-This marks the beginning of eternal life
Verse 28:
-And he will think that it was the parting
-Meaning, that the person will know that their time of death has come.
Verse 29:
-And one shank will be joined with another shank.
-Meaning that one leg will wrap around the other one. This could be out of fear of what’s going to happen.. or it could be referring to how the legs are wrapped in the shroud.
Verse 30:
-The drive will be on that Day to your Lord!
-Meaning that everyone will be brought for judgment infront of Allah (swt).
Mentioning the Case of the Denier:
Verse 31:
-So, he neither believed nor prayed!
-This is to inform about the disbeliever who used to deny the truth in his heart in the abode of this worldly life, and he used to turn away from acting according to its way.
Verse 32:
-But on the contrary, he denied and turned away!
Verse 33:
-Then he walked in conceit to his family admiring himself!
-Allah also says: (Verily, he was among his people in joy! Verily, he thought that he would never come back (to Us)!) (84:13,14)
-“yatammatta”: some scholars say that these verses refer to abu Jahl, he used to walk very arrogantly.
Verse 34:
-Woe to you! And then woe to you!
Verse 35:
-Again, woe to you! And then woe to you!
-This is a definite warning and threat from Allah to those who disbelieve in Him and strut about when walking.
-The Prophet (pbuh) said this to abu Jahl..then the verses were revealved.
-Abu Jahl’s response: `Are you threatening me, O Muhammad By Allah! Neither you nor your Lord are able to do anything, and verily, I am the mightiest person walking between its (Makkah's) two mountains.'
Now the surah goes back to it’s beginning topic, the resurrection:
Verse 36:
-Does man think that he will be left neglected
-Meaning, not resurrected? Not commanded during life and prohibited, etc?
-We’re not left alone even in the grave.
Verse 37:
-Was he not a Nutfah of semen emitted
-meaning, was not man a weak drop of sperm from a despised fluid known as semen, that is emitted from the loins into the wombs
-reflect on our origin.
Verse 38:
-Then he became an `Alaqah; then shaped and fashioned in due proportion.
Verse 39:
-And made of him two sexes, male and female.)
-meaning, he became a clot, then a lump of flesh, then he was formed and the soul was blown into him. Then he became a perfect creation with healthy limbs, as either a male or a female by the permission and decree of Allah.
Verse 40:
-Is it not so then, that He would be able to give life to the dead
-meaning, is not He Who made this perfect creation from this weak drop of sperm able to repeat that as He did originally
-At this, the Prophet (pbuh) used to say:`Glory to You, of course.'
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
July 26th: Trustworthiness
Trustworthiness (al-Amanah)
-It’s one of the two characteristics that the Prophet (may Allah bless him) was known for even before he became a prophet.
Hadiths:
"Five prayers, from one Friday prayer to (the next) Friday prayer and rendering trusts are an expiation (of the sins committed in between their intervals)."
"Guarantee for me to do six things and I shall guarantee for you paradise; be truthful if you speak, keep your word when you promise, render whatever you are entrusted with, protect your private parts (from sin), lower your gaze and do not harm anyone”
-How many of those six do we do?
"Three are the signs of a hypocrite: when he speaks he tells a lie, when he makes a promise he breaks it, and when he is trusted he betrays."
“'There is no faith for he who lacks trustworthiness and there is no religion for he who can't keep a vow.”
-This hadith is extremely alarming!
-Does this mean that an untrustworthy person has no faith? Of course not. It means that unless he becomes trustworthy, his faith will never be complete.
-Let’s all vow that we’ll never break a promise or be disloyal.
“Pay the deposit to him who deposited it with you, and do not betray him who betrayed you”
-so where’s that bracelet you borrowed a couple of months ago from your friend? Did you ever return it?
-Did you know that the lack of trustworthiness is a sign of the day of judgment?
Types of Trusts:
1) Money and Deposits:
-hadith: "A Muslim is he from whose hand and tongue the Muslims are safe"
-Before he starts his hijra (the migration from Makkah to Madinah) journey, Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) cared very much for returning the deposits he had to their owners!
2) Honesty in Selling, Buying and Doing one's work:
-hadith: "The truthful and honest tradesman is with Prophets, truthful persons and martyrs in the Day of Judgment".
-Nowadays, a doctor might ask his patients to do unnecessary x-rays or tests only because there are mutual interests between him and the x-ray labs.
-The mechanic, who replaces parts of your car with new ones, though the old ones are still valid
3) Keeping secrets:
-hadith: "If a man talks to another, and he looks around him to make sure no one else hears what he says, then what he says is a trust"
4) Trustworthiness in gender relations:
-The example of Sayyidna Musa and his modesty in dealing with the two ladies he helped out.
-Don't use excuses to talk to people of the opposite gender. Interaction should be limited and for a purpose.
5) Trustworthiness with Wives:
-husbands do not own their wives
-The wife is a trust that the husband has, hence the marriage contract.
-Aya: Allah says what can be translated as, "…and they have taken from you a strong pledge?" (TMQ, 4:21).
6) Children’s Trustworthiness:
-Young men or women who take money from their parents behind their back are being untrustworthy.
-A girl who makes a relation with a man behind her parents back is betraying them.
-Aya: "…and you reckoned it was a simple thing, and in the Reckoning of Allah it is a tremendous thing" (TMQ, 24: 15).
So, let us extend our definition a bit and say, "Trustworthiness is to preserve all the blessings that were granted to you by Allah".
-Your children are a trust: raise them well, not just by buying them everything they need.
-your health: don’t smoke, etc.
-your eyes: look out: wear hijab to preserve that trust that Allah has given you.
-your fortune
-your knowledge
-your family
Hadith: “A servant of Allah will remain standing on the Day of Judgment till he is questioned about his age and how he spent it; and about his knowledge and how he utilized it; about his wealth from where he acquired it and in what (activities) he spent it; and about his body as to how he used it.”
7) The Trust of Protecting Islam:
-This is the greatest trust of all.
-You are responsible for Islam as you will be asked about it on the Day of Judgment.
-Do you really recite the Qur'an?
-Do you attend those lessons instructing you about your religion?
-Do you work on guiding your dear ones to the path of Allah?
-Aya: "You have been the most charitable nation brought out to mankind: you command good, and forbid evil, and believe in Allah" (TMQ, 3: 110)
- Don’t ever think that it is the responsibility of scholars only. You are responsible for passing along the knowledge we learn here.
8) Lost & Found:
Scroll down to the end of this entry for the "Fiqh of lost and found", taken from SunniPath.com answers.
These are some of the trusts we have to take care of. It is such a heavy burden, isn’t it?
-Aya: "Surely We presented the to the heavens, the earth and mountains. Yet they refused to carry it and were afraid of it (of the responsibility), and man carried it/assumed it. Surely he has been constantly unjust, constantly ignorant" (TMQ, 33: 72).
-The heavens, the earth and the mountains refused to bear the trust because it is too heavy of a burden!
I hope that our concept of trustworthiness has now broadened and that we will be more careful about keeping our trusts. May Allah help us all to keep what we are entrusted with.
_______________________________________________________
-It’s one of the two characteristics that the Prophet (may Allah bless him) was known for even before he became a prophet.
Hadiths:
"Five prayers, from one Friday prayer to (the next) Friday prayer and rendering trusts are an expiation (of the sins committed in between their intervals)."
"Guarantee for me to do six things and I shall guarantee for you paradise; be truthful if you speak, keep your word when you promise, render whatever you are entrusted with, protect your private parts (from sin), lower your gaze and do not harm anyone”
-How many of those six do we do?
"Three are the signs of a hypocrite: when he speaks he tells a lie, when he makes a promise he breaks it, and when he is trusted he betrays."
“'There is no faith for he who lacks trustworthiness and there is no religion for he who can't keep a vow.”
-This hadith is extremely alarming!
-Does this mean that an untrustworthy person has no faith? Of course not. It means that unless he becomes trustworthy, his faith will never be complete.
-Let’s all vow that we’ll never break a promise or be disloyal.
“Pay the deposit to him who deposited it with you, and do not betray him who betrayed you”
-so where’s that bracelet you borrowed a couple of months ago from your friend? Did you ever return it?
-Did you know that the lack of trustworthiness is a sign of the day of judgment?
Types of Trusts:
1) Money and Deposits:
-hadith: "A Muslim is he from whose hand and tongue the Muslims are safe"
-Before he starts his hijra (the migration from Makkah to Madinah) journey, Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) cared very much for returning the deposits he had to their owners!
2) Honesty in Selling, Buying and Doing one's work:
-hadith: "The truthful and honest tradesman is with Prophets, truthful persons and martyrs in the Day of Judgment".
-Nowadays, a doctor might ask his patients to do unnecessary x-rays or tests only because there are mutual interests between him and the x-ray labs.
-The mechanic, who replaces parts of your car with new ones, though the old ones are still valid
3) Keeping secrets:
-hadith: "If a man talks to another, and he looks around him to make sure no one else hears what he says, then what he says is a trust"
4) Trustworthiness in gender relations:
-The example of Sayyidna Musa and his modesty in dealing with the two ladies he helped out.
-Don't use excuses to talk to people of the opposite gender. Interaction should be limited and for a purpose.
5) Trustworthiness with Wives:
-husbands do not own their wives
-The wife is a trust that the husband has, hence the marriage contract.
-Aya: Allah says what can be translated as, "…and they have taken from you a strong pledge?" (TMQ, 4:21).
6) Children’s Trustworthiness:
-Young men or women who take money from their parents behind their back are being untrustworthy.
-A girl who makes a relation with a man behind her parents back is betraying them.
-Aya: "…and you reckoned it was a simple thing, and in the Reckoning of Allah it is a tremendous thing" (TMQ, 24: 15).
So, let us extend our definition a bit and say, "Trustworthiness is to preserve all the blessings that were granted to you by Allah".
-Your children are a trust: raise them well, not just by buying them everything they need.
-your health: don’t smoke, etc.
-your eyes: look out: wear hijab to preserve that trust that Allah has given you.
-your fortune
-your knowledge
-your family
Hadith: “A servant of Allah will remain standing on the Day of Judgment till he is questioned about his age and how he spent it; and about his knowledge and how he utilized it; about his wealth from where he acquired it and in what (activities) he spent it; and about his body as to how he used it.”
7) The Trust of Protecting Islam:
-This is the greatest trust of all.
-You are responsible for Islam as you will be asked about it on the Day of Judgment.
-Do you really recite the Qur'an?
-Do you attend those lessons instructing you about your religion?
-Do you work on guiding your dear ones to the path of Allah?
-Aya: "You have been the most charitable nation brought out to mankind: you command good, and forbid evil, and believe in Allah" (TMQ, 3: 110)
- Don’t ever think that it is the responsibility of scholars only. You are responsible for passing along the knowledge we learn here.
8) Lost & Found:
Scroll down to the end of this entry for the "Fiqh of lost and found", taken from SunniPath.com answers.
These are some of the trusts we have to take care of. It is such a heavy burden, isn’t it?
-Aya: "Surely We presented the to the heavens, the earth and mountains. Yet they refused to carry it and were afraid of it (of the responsibility), and man carried it/assumed it. Surely he has been constantly unjust, constantly ignorant" (TMQ, 33: 72).
-The heavens, the earth and the mountains refused to bear the trust because it is too heavy of a burden!
I hope that our concept of trustworthiness has now broadened and that we will be more careful about keeping our trusts. May Allah help us all to keep what we are entrusted with.
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The Fiqh of Lost & Found: What are the rules pertaining to lost and found goods?
Answered by Sidi Sohail Hanif
What are the rules pertaining to lost and found goods?
There are a number of rules concerning lost and found goods. In fact, books of fiqh normally have an entire chapter devoted to the topic.
The basic rules can be understood from the following points. These are summarised from Ibn ‘Abidin’s Radd al-Muhtar [3:317, Bulaq] and Shaykh ‘Ali Haydar’s extensive commentary on Majalla al-Ahkam al-‘Adaliyya, the Ottoman law code [articles 769 and 770].
If somebody finds an item, it can fall into one of the following categories: An item known to be purposely discarded by its owner. A perishable item deemed customarily to be of no value and concerning which one is reasonably sure that the owner will not care to look for it. e.g. a lone pear found floating in a stream, or a walnut found on the pavement. An item deemed to be of value to its owner. If i or ii above, then one can use it as one wishes without having need to announce that one has found the item in question. If iii then the item is termed a ‘lost and found good’ (luqata). It is impermissible to take the good for ones own consumption. One may either take it to return it to its owner or leave it in its place. The particular circumstances dictate which is superior, taking or leaving.
If one is able to announce the lost item and undertake the search for the owner then it is superior to pick it up. Imam al-Sarakhsi mentions in al-Mabsut that in taking it and returning it to it’s owner is fulfilling a trust which is a praiseworthy act in accordance with the noble verse ‘Indeed Allah commands you to render back your trusts to those to whom they are due’ [4:58] If one suspects that one will fall short in the fulfilling the legal requirements of handling a lost and found item then it is superior to leave it. If one fears that if one does not take it somebody else will steal it then it is obligatory to take it. If one feels certain of oneself that one can not fulfil the rules pertaining to lost and found goods then one it is forbidden for one to take it. If one does take it then one must take the following measures: o Announce to those in the vicinity that one is taking this item to return it to its owner. If one is unable to announce one’s intent (ishhad) when taking the item due to the absence of witnesses, then one should do so when able.
o Undertake a general announcement (ta`rif) concerning the found item so as to locate the owner. This can take any means necessary and should be widespread enough so as to locate the owner.
o After having undertaken the above steps one has fulfilled the conditions of the lost and found good and it is considered entrusted to one’s care (amana) meaning that one is not liable to cover the costs for any accidental damage or destruction that may befall the item when in one’s care.
If a person comes and claims that he is the owner then one may hand it over to him if he provides evidence that it is his, or is able to describe it exactly or if one just feels certain in ones heart that he is the owner.
If one were to give it to someone, being convinced by his claim and thereafter the real owner were to come with a clear proof that the item found belonged to him then he takes the item from the false claimer if it is still in one piece. If it has been destroyed he is given its value from either the finder or the false claimer.
To facilitate this process the scholars mention that it is often better to describe the object only in general terms, for example ‘a wallet’, and then let someone claiming to be the owner to describe it in detail.
One keeps announcing the good and searching for its owner until a sufficient amount of time has passed such that one does not believe that the owner is still looking for it and cannot be located. In the case of perishable goods such as food items one keeps announcing until one fears that they will rot. One may then either,
i. keep holding on to it with the intention of returning it to the owner. This of course is only an option with non perishable goods.
ii. give either the item or it’s value in charity with the intention of donating the reward to the owner,
iii. sell it with the intention of giving the money to the owner.
If the owner should present himself thereafter:
o If one had given it in charity, the owner can either approve of the charity in which case he has the reward for the charity or demand the value of the good from the person who had given it in charity.
o If one had sold it, then the owner can either take the money from the sale or cancel the transaction and demand the original item from person who had bought it.
These are the main rules mentioned concerning this quite taxing responsibility. Further details may be found in books of fiqh such as the two aforementioned sources. What can be learnt from this is the great emphasis that Islam places on fulfilling and safeguarding the rights of our fellow human beings. People freely indulging in other people’s property and disregarding their rights are quite far from the high, noble ideals of the religion. May Allah give us tawfiq in giving all people their due rights.
Sohail Hanif
Monday, July 23, 2007
"Rights of Neighbors" 7/12/07
- "Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him; and do good- to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbours who are near, neighbours who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (ye meet), and what your right hands possess: For Allah loveth not the arrogant, the vainglorious;"Qur'an (Surah Nisaa, 4:36)
- the Prophet (S) said that angel Jibril (AS) continued to advise him at one point about neighbors until he thought they'd inherit from him
- narrated by Abu Dharr (RA): 'if you make soup, put extra water in it and be considerate of your neighbors' [hadith paraphrased]
- narrated by Abu Huraira: 'by Allah he does not believe whose neighbors aren't safe from him' [hadith paraphrased]
- entering jannah will be delayed if you were bad to your neighbors
- 'anyone who believes in the Last Day and in Allah should not harm his neighbors' [hadith paraphrased]
- 'the best of you in the sight of Allah is the one who is best to their neighbors' [hadith paraphrased]
- 'the most important thing with neighbors is keeping harm from them and being patient with their harm' [hadith paraphrased]
- the rights of neighbors:
- be friendly/nice to them
- protect the honor of their family, especially the women
- occasionally send them gifts
- don't cause them harm, help them when needed, visit them when they're sick
- forgiving someone is more rewarded than keeping a grudge
- material assistance
- brotherhood is like 2 hands washing each other, helping one another out; why? because they have the same goal: submission
- there are 3 degrees of brotherhood
2) equal treatment (e.g.: eating at the same time, from the same pot)
3) putting your brother or sister before you (e.g.: making them eat before you do)
- the third level is undoubtedly the best to be at, and is the most selfless
- example of Umar's (RA) son: when offered meat, he refused it on account of his neighbors, told the man to offer it to them first; everyone in the neighborhood was so selfless, eventually the meat came back to him (subhanallah!)
- the dearer to Allah swt is the nicer of the friends
- your fellow Muslims' needs are more important than your own
- you shouldn't mention others' faults
- don't contradict others or argue with them
- don't quiz them about affairs (e.g.: where were you last night, I saw you come home at 2 am!)
- stay silent about their secrets
- don't hide praises about them (just keep it modest)
- be tolerant of others, observe silence in your heart, and give up suspicion
- conceal others' faults <-- **this is the mark of religious people** <--
- staying silent when you're right is harder on the soul, but more rewarded
- mutual love is necessary by sacred law
- praise each others good qualities (don't forget to say "mashaa'Allah")
- genuine Islam (submission) is to not love what's not what you'd love for yourself (so basically if you don't love for muslims what you love for yourself, you haven't attained true faith yet)
- advise against sinning against Allah, but with the proper adab and attitude
- accept others' apologies, whether it's real or fake!!!
- make du'a for your Muslim brothers and sisters
- remember that the angels around you say 'ameen! may the same be for you' (i.e.: make good du'as!!)
- even in their absence we should be loyal and sincere, as if they were present
- loyalty to your br or sr means NOT listening to gossip or ill talk about them
- ease each others' discomforts; why? for the sole reason of love for Allah!
- those you benefit from
- those benefitting someone else but not receiving benefit
- those you can't get benefit from and cannot help you and will actually hurt you
Friday, July 6, 2007
July 5th: Selflessness
selflessness (al-eethar)
Hadith: “None of you will have faith till he wishes for his brother what he likes for himself.”
Meaning of Al-Eethar: giving preference to others over yourself and considering their happiness and welfare before your own for the sake of Allah.
Examples of Al-eethar:
In a severe winter's night in Al-Madinah, a woman of the Ansar (The Muslims of Madinah who sponsored and defended the Call to Islam) brought a woven velvet cloak to the Prophet (PBUH). The Prophet (PBUH) took it, as he was in need of it to protect himself from the severe cold. Then, the Prophet (PBUH) came out wearing it for the first time, just as you would buy a new suit and wear it for the first time. One of the Companions from the Ansar looked at him and said, “How nice it is! O Messenger of Allah, give it to me”. What would your reaction be if you were in the place of the Prophet? The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Yes” and gave it to him on the spot. Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah. Do you realize the meaning of al-’eethar now? The Companions became angry with the Ansari and told him, “the Prophet is in need of it!” The man replied, “I am in need of it more than he is. I want to make it my shroud when I die”.
Another example:
Twenty three years after the mission of the Prophet (PBUH) had started, Makkah and Khaibar were opened (to Islam) and booty was gained. During this period of the mission, the Prophet and the Companions were suffering hardships and poverty to the extent that the Prophet (PBUH) used to fasten two stones against his stomach out of hunger. After Allah had granted Muslims victory, the Prophet's share of booty was a number of sheep enough to cover the space between two mountains. Imagine! Such a huge number of sheep became the possession of a poor man who had experienced poverty for such a long time. However, the Prophet (PBUH) sought the reward of the hereafter. An Arabian came to the Prophet and looked at the booty. The Prophet asked him, “Do you like it?” The Arabian answered, “Yes.” The Prophet said, “It is yours.” The Arabian wondered, “O Muhammad! Are you serious? The Prophet said, “Yes, take it if you wish”. Do you imagine to what extent one can prefer others to himself? The Arabian ran to the sheep and looking all around him took them all. Then he returned to his people, saying, “Embrace Islam. I have just been with the best man that ever has been. Muhammad gives with the generosity of a person who has no fear of poverty”.
Another example:
A man came to the Prophet (PBUH) and told him that he had nothing to eat. The Prophet sent a messenger to ask his wives if they had food. However, when they were asked, each replied, “No, by Allah I have nothing except water.” The Prophet stood and called his Companions, “Who will entertain this man as a guest?” An Ansari said, “I will, O Messenger of Allah.” Afterwards, the man took the guest and went quickly to his wife and asked her, “Do you have food?” She replied, “We have nothing except the food of my children” - that is to say, the remaining food that could only suffice their children. Then, he told her, “Make your children forget the food, put them to sleep if they ask for supper, and turn the lamp off when the guest comes so that he would think that we are eating and would eat like us.”
-Nowadays we hide food from each other
There are other examples of the Companions' ‘eethar towards the Prophet (PBUH) in which they were ready to give away their souls not just their money:
On the day of the battle of Uhud, while arrows were shot towards the Prophet (PBUH) from every direction, Abu-Dogana gave preference to the Prophet over himself and hugged him in order to protect him from arrows. Abu-Bakr said, “When I looked at the back of Abu-Dogana, it was pierced by so many arrows that he looked like a hedgehog.” He gave preference to the Prophet over himself and went on doing that although he was wounded. Where is our ‘eethar towards the Prophet? Do we foster his Sunnah?
Examples of the Ansar’s ‘eethar to the Muhajireen:
Sa’d Ibn-Al-Rabi (an Ansari) hosted Abdur-Rahman Ibn-Ouf, a Muhajir (an emigrant). The former said to the latter, “Here is my money. I will divide it between you and me. This is your share and this is mine. Here is my property. I will divide it equally between you and me. I have two wives. See which of the two you like so that I may divorce her and you can marry her after she completes her Iddah (prescribed retreat)”. Can you see to what extent they were practicing al-’eethar? However, Abdur-Rahman Ibn-Ouf was decent and did not make use of this opportunity. He replied, “May Allah grant you good reward. Where is the market?”
-How much clothes do we have? Do we wear all of them or do some still have the tags on them? Why can’t we give them away?
-When we do give away something, do we give from the best that we have? Or do we give our old things that we no longer need?
-The ansar would give from their best.
Benefits of eethar:
-it promises jannah
-it cleans our hearts from its diseases: such as envy, miserliness, jealousy, love of the world.
The eethar of Ikrimah ibn abi jahl at the battle of Yarmuk:
All the wounded were gathered in a certain area until the battle was over. Ikrima's cousin was one of the water carriers i.e. those who were giving the wounded water to drink. He narrates, “I was searching for Ikrima and found him among the injured, wounded, in pain and about to die. He was surrounded by ten other wounded Muslims. I ran to give him water, but when he took the waterskin and was just about to drink he heard a Muslim brother saying, “I am thirsty!” He said “No, I swear by Allah I shall not drink unless my brother drinks first.” I moved to the second. When he was about to drink he heard another brother saying “Ah!” Then he said, “No, I swear by Allah I shall not drink.” Then I went to the next, and the next, and so on, until I reached the tenth soldier, who said “No, I swear I shall not drink unless Ikrima drinks.” I went back to Ikrima to find that he has already passed away as a martyr. He practiced 'eethar even when he was wounded and dying.”
The eethar of Aisha:
W when Omar Ibn-Al-Khattab (RA) was dying after being struck by Lo’lo’a Al-Majoosi, he asked his son Abdulla Ibn-Omar to go to Um al-Mo'mineen, Aisha (RA) and tell her, “Omar Ibn-Al-Khattab, and don’t tell her Amir Al-Mo'mineen for I am not so any more, tell her Omar Ibn-Al-Khattab is requesting your permission to be buried beside his friends (the Prophet (PBUH) and Abu-Bakr (RA)) in her room. She replied, “I wanted that place for myself, but I shall offer it to Omar”. Imagine that she was going to be buried beside her husband and father, i.e. the Prophet (PBUH) and Abu-Bakr (RA). What an honorable burial place! Despite this, the great lady agreed to be buried in the Baqee (a graveyard in Al-Madinah) and offered that place to Omar.
Eethar of Abdullah Ibn-Omar:
Abdullah Ibn Omar used to like the ayah, which can be translated as, “By no means shall you attain Al-Birr (piety, righteousness - here it means Allâh’s Reward, i.e. Paradise), unless you spend (in Allâh’s Cause) of that which you love; and whatever of good you spend, Allâh knows it well.”(TMQ 3:92).
-He gave away his fish dinner (nice story)
Imam al-Ghazaly says in his book Al-Ihyaa (The Revival), that there are three levels/grades of al-'eethar:
- First- to give your brother what you would give to a servant, i.e. you eat and give him your leftovers.
- Second- to treat him just like yourself i.e., you give him what you would take for yourself.
- Third- to prefer him over yourself, i.e. provide his needs before yours. His children, for example, will enter school and have no clothes, so before buying clothes for your own children you buy for his.
When we live only for ourselves, we live a short life where we are born small and die small! However when we live for each other we live as great people whose lives would last as long as humanity exists. If you live for others not only yourself, you will find your happiness in other peoples' smiles, your opportunities will be in other peoples' opportunities. You will be extremely happy when you find someone asking Allah (SWT), “May Allah be pleased with him, as he pleased me.” It is a strange yet a great feeling! Try it, and you will feel much more satisfied than you would have been if you had reaped all the benefits for yourself.
To conclude, a good man once said at the moments of his death, “My daughter I don’t fear death any more, even if it came now. I took a lot from life I mean I gave a lot! Sometimes my daughter it is very hard to differentiate between taking and giving, because for a believer they carry the same meaning. Every time I gave, I took. Actually I took more than I gave.”
-Let’s try to do an act of selflessness today
Hadith: “None of you will have faith till he wishes for his brother what he likes for himself.”
Meaning of Al-Eethar: giving preference to others over yourself and considering their happiness and welfare before your own for the sake of Allah.
Examples of Al-eethar:
In a severe winter's night in Al-Madinah, a woman of the Ansar (The Muslims of Madinah who sponsored and defended the Call to Islam) brought a woven velvet cloak to the Prophet (PBUH). The Prophet (PBUH) took it, as he was in need of it to protect himself from the severe cold. Then, the Prophet (PBUH) came out wearing it for the first time, just as you would buy a new suit and wear it for the first time. One of the Companions from the Ansar looked at him and said, “How nice it is! O Messenger of Allah, give it to me”. What would your reaction be if you were in the place of the Prophet? The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Yes” and gave it to him on the spot. Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah. Do you realize the meaning of al-’eethar now? The Companions became angry with the Ansari and told him, “the Prophet is in need of it!” The man replied, “I am in need of it more than he is. I want to make it my shroud when I die”.
Another example:
Twenty three years after the mission of the Prophet (PBUH) had started, Makkah and Khaibar were opened (to Islam) and booty was gained. During this period of the mission, the Prophet and the Companions were suffering hardships and poverty to the extent that the Prophet (PBUH) used to fasten two stones against his stomach out of hunger. After Allah had granted Muslims victory, the Prophet's share of booty was a number of sheep enough to cover the space between two mountains. Imagine! Such a huge number of sheep became the possession of a poor man who had experienced poverty for such a long time. However, the Prophet (PBUH) sought the reward of the hereafter. An Arabian came to the Prophet and looked at the booty. The Prophet asked him, “Do you like it?” The Arabian answered, “Yes.” The Prophet said, “It is yours.” The Arabian wondered, “O Muhammad! Are you serious? The Prophet said, “Yes, take it if you wish”. Do you imagine to what extent one can prefer others to himself? The Arabian ran to the sheep and looking all around him took them all. Then he returned to his people, saying, “Embrace Islam. I have just been with the best man that ever has been. Muhammad gives with the generosity of a person who has no fear of poverty”.
Another example:
A man came to the Prophet (PBUH) and told him that he had nothing to eat. The Prophet sent a messenger to ask his wives if they had food. However, when they were asked, each replied, “No, by Allah I have nothing except water.” The Prophet stood and called his Companions, “Who will entertain this man as a guest?” An Ansari said, “I will, O Messenger of Allah.” Afterwards, the man took the guest and went quickly to his wife and asked her, “Do you have food?” She replied, “We have nothing except the food of my children” - that is to say, the remaining food that could only suffice their children. Then, he told her, “Make your children forget the food, put them to sleep if they ask for supper, and turn the lamp off when the guest comes so that he would think that we are eating and would eat like us.”
-Nowadays we hide food from each other
There are other examples of the Companions' ‘eethar towards the Prophet (PBUH) in which they were ready to give away their souls not just their money:
On the day of the battle of Uhud, while arrows were shot towards the Prophet (PBUH) from every direction, Abu-Dogana gave preference to the Prophet over himself and hugged him in order to protect him from arrows. Abu-Bakr said, “When I looked at the back of Abu-Dogana, it was pierced by so many arrows that he looked like a hedgehog.” He gave preference to the Prophet over himself and went on doing that although he was wounded. Where is our ‘eethar towards the Prophet? Do we foster his Sunnah?
Examples of the Ansar’s ‘eethar to the Muhajireen:
Sa’d Ibn-Al-Rabi (an Ansari) hosted Abdur-Rahman Ibn-Ouf, a Muhajir (an emigrant). The former said to the latter, “Here is my money. I will divide it between you and me. This is your share and this is mine. Here is my property. I will divide it equally between you and me. I have two wives. See which of the two you like so that I may divorce her and you can marry her after she completes her Iddah (prescribed retreat)”. Can you see to what extent they were practicing al-’eethar? However, Abdur-Rahman Ibn-Ouf was decent and did not make use of this opportunity. He replied, “May Allah grant you good reward. Where is the market?”
-How much clothes do we have? Do we wear all of them or do some still have the tags on them? Why can’t we give them away?
-When we do give away something, do we give from the best that we have? Or do we give our old things that we no longer need?
-The ansar would give from their best.
Benefits of eethar:
-it promises jannah
-it cleans our hearts from its diseases: such as envy, miserliness, jealousy, love of the world.
The eethar of Ikrimah ibn abi jahl at the battle of Yarmuk:
All the wounded were gathered in a certain area until the battle was over. Ikrima's cousin was one of the water carriers i.e. those who were giving the wounded water to drink. He narrates, “I was searching for Ikrima and found him among the injured, wounded, in pain and about to die. He was surrounded by ten other wounded Muslims. I ran to give him water, but when he took the waterskin and was just about to drink he heard a Muslim brother saying, “I am thirsty!” He said “No, I swear by Allah I shall not drink unless my brother drinks first.” I moved to the second. When he was about to drink he heard another brother saying “Ah!” Then he said, “No, I swear by Allah I shall not drink.” Then I went to the next, and the next, and so on, until I reached the tenth soldier, who said “No, I swear I shall not drink unless Ikrima drinks.” I went back to Ikrima to find that he has already passed away as a martyr. He practiced 'eethar even when he was wounded and dying.”
The eethar of Aisha:
W when Omar Ibn-Al-Khattab (RA) was dying after being struck by Lo’lo’a Al-Majoosi, he asked his son Abdulla Ibn-Omar to go to Um al-Mo'mineen, Aisha (RA) and tell her, “Omar Ibn-Al-Khattab, and don’t tell her Amir Al-Mo'mineen for I am not so any more, tell her Omar Ibn-Al-Khattab is requesting your permission to be buried beside his friends (the Prophet (PBUH) and Abu-Bakr (RA)) in her room. She replied, “I wanted that place for myself, but I shall offer it to Omar”. Imagine that she was going to be buried beside her husband and father, i.e. the Prophet (PBUH) and Abu-Bakr (RA). What an honorable burial place! Despite this, the great lady agreed to be buried in the Baqee (a graveyard in Al-Madinah) and offered that place to Omar.
Eethar of Abdullah Ibn-Omar:
Abdullah Ibn Omar used to like the ayah, which can be translated as, “By no means shall you attain Al-Birr (piety, righteousness - here it means Allâh’s Reward, i.e. Paradise), unless you spend (in Allâh’s Cause) of that which you love; and whatever of good you spend, Allâh knows it well.”(TMQ 3:92).
-He gave away his fish dinner (nice story)
Imam al-Ghazaly says in his book Al-Ihyaa (The Revival), that there are three levels/grades of al-'eethar:
- First- to give your brother what you would give to a servant, i.e. you eat and give him your leftovers.
- Second- to treat him just like yourself i.e., you give him what you would take for yourself.
- Third- to prefer him over yourself, i.e. provide his needs before yours. His children, for example, will enter school and have no clothes, so before buying clothes for your own children you buy for his.
When we live only for ourselves, we live a short life where we are born small and die small! However when we live for each other we live as great people whose lives would last as long as humanity exists. If you live for others not only yourself, you will find your happiness in other peoples' smiles, your opportunities will be in other peoples' opportunities. You will be extremely happy when you find someone asking Allah (SWT), “May Allah be pleased with him, as he pleased me.” It is a strange yet a great feeling! Try it, and you will feel much more satisfied than you would have been if you had reaped all the benefits for yourself.
To conclude, a good man once said at the moments of his death, “My daughter I don’t fear death any more, even if it came now. I took a lot from life I mean I gave a lot! Sometimes my daughter it is very hard to differentiate between taking and giving, because for a believer they carry the same meaning. Every time I gave, I took. Actually I took more than I gave.”
-Let’s try to do an act of selflessness today
Sunday, July 1, 2007
June 28, 2007 Da'wah/Naseeha Halaqah
given by: Hajira Ali
- "istiqaamah" = calling Muslims to Islaam
- when you're counseling others, don't hide anything, be honest and the rest is up to Allah swt
- don't love people more with your words than your heart (don't exaggerate)
- be good to people and don't backbite -->this is how you can be a good counsel to others, how it'll build trust between people
- the absence of good counsel is indicative of envy; so if you don't advise someone in a matter that needs to be addressed, it probably means you're envious of her/him
=============================
Envy consumes good deeds like fire burns up dry wood (hadith)
=============================
- as sincere Muslims, we should dislike all praise, both for dunya and deen; liking praise can sometimes mean that you think you earned whatever it was that they people praise you for = pride develops
- when someone praises you, you should make the du'a : 'O Allah, do not hold me accountable for what this person has said about me and make me better than that.' (It was narrated that Sayidna Ali would make this dua)
- don't say explicitly what you can say implicitly; this is the more gentle approach, just like how the Prophet (S) was in everything
- hadith: the Prophet (S) said, "He who cannot keep a trust has no faith."
- there are 3 things that are beneath the throne of Allah
1)benefaction
2)kinship ties
3)trust
- be wary of argumentation and wrangling
- when a person starts to argue, shaytan is with him/her
- Story of man who was cursing Abu Bakr (RA) and he stayed quiet until the man said something that really got under his skin, so he replied with a simple refutation; at this point the Prophet(S) left; Abu Bakr (RA) became scared that he did something wrong and asked the Prophet (S) what he did wrong; he (S) replied that the moment he opened his mouth, shaytan came and the Prophet (S) left to get away from shaytan
- it is sufficient evil that at Muslim despises his brother
- humility is the characteristic of the believers
- pride is to deny the truth (and there was another part to this statement that i didn't get)
- signs of a true believer:
>like obscurity (meaning not being famous)
>love the poor
>take advice from any rank; just because a person is poor, it doesn't mean their knowledge is questionable
- these are signs of humility
- we should excuse those who are amiss and give each his right
*anything good that's written is from Allah, and may HE swt forgive me for any mistakes I may have made*
- "istiqaamah" = calling Muslims to Islaam
- when you're counseling others, don't hide anything, be honest and the rest is up to Allah swt
- don't love people more with your words than your heart (don't exaggerate)
- be good to people and don't backbite -->this is how you can be a good counsel to others, how it'll build trust between people
- the absence of good counsel is indicative of envy; so if you don't advise someone in a matter that needs to be addressed, it probably means you're envious of her/him
=============================
Envy consumes good deeds like fire burns up dry wood (hadith)
=============================
- as sincere Muslims, we should dislike all praise, both for dunya and deen; liking praise can sometimes mean that you think you earned whatever it was that they people praise you for = pride develops
- when someone praises you, you should make the du'a : 'O Allah, do not hold me accountable for what this person has said about me and make me better than that.' (It was narrated that Sayidna Ali would make this dua)
- don't say explicitly what you can say implicitly; this is the more gentle approach, just like how the Prophet (S) was in everything
- hadith: the Prophet (S) said, "He who cannot keep a trust has no faith."
- there are 3 things that are beneath the throne of Allah
1)benefaction
2)kinship ties
3)trust
- be wary of argumentation and wrangling
- when a person starts to argue, shaytan is with him/her
- Story of man who was cursing Abu Bakr (RA) and he stayed quiet until the man said something that really got under his skin, so he replied with a simple refutation; at this point the Prophet(S) left; Abu Bakr (RA) became scared that he did something wrong and asked the Prophet (S) what he did wrong; he (S) replied that the moment he opened his mouth, shaytan came and the Prophet (S) left to get away from shaytan
- it is sufficient evil that at Muslim despises his brother
- humility is the characteristic of the believers
- pride is to deny the truth (and there was another part to this statement that i didn't get)
- signs of a true believer:
>like obscurity (meaning not being famous)
>love the poor
>take advice from any rank; just because a person is poor, it doesn't mean their knowledge is questionable
- these are signs of humility
- we should excuse those who are amiss and give each his right
*anything good that's written is from Allah, and may HE swt forgive me for any mistakes I may have made*
Monday, June 25, 2007
June 21st: Surat An-Nour (part 4)
Surat An-Nour (53-end)
Verse 53:
- “wa aqsamu billahi jahda aymanahum…”: They swear by Allah their strongest oaths
- “la in amartahum layakhrujun…”: that if only you would order them, they would leave
- “Qul: la tuqsimu ta3atun ma3roofah…”: Say: "Swear you not; obedience is known.
- “inna ALlaha khabeerun bima ta3maloon”: Verily, Allah knows well what you do.
Verse 54:
- “qul atee3u Allaha wa atee3u arrasool…”: Say: "Obey Allah and obey the Messenger
- “fa in tawallaw…”: but if they turn away
- “fa innama 3alaiyhi ma 7ummila wa 3alaykum ma 7ummiltum”: he is only responsible for the duty placed on him (conveying the Message and fulfilling the trust) and you for that placed on you (accepting that, and venerating it and doing as it commanded.)
- “wa in tutee3oohu tahtadu”: If you obey him, you shall be on the right guidance, because he calls to the straight path.
- “wama 3ala arrasuli illal-balaghul mubeen”: The Messenger's duty is only to convey (the Message) in a clear way.
Verse 55:
- “wa3ada Allahu allatheena aamanoo minkum wa3amilu assali7at…”: Allah has promised those among you who believe and do righteous good deeds
- “layastakhlifannahum fil ard…”: that He will certainly grant them succession in the land
- “kamas-takhlafa allatheena min qablihim..”: as He granted it to those before them
- “wala yumakinnana lahum deenahum allthee irtada lahum..”: and that He will grant them the authority to practise their religion which He has chosen for them
- “wala yubaddilannahum min ba3di khawfihim amna…”: And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear
- “ya3budoonani la yushrikoona be shay2a…”: if they worship Me and do not associate anything with Me
- “waman kafara ba3da thalika fa 2ula2ika hum al-fasiqoon”: But whoever disbelieved after this, they are the rebellious.
Verse 56:
- “wa aqeemu assalata wa ataw azzakata wa atee3u arrasula la3allakum tur7amoon”: And perform the Salah, and give the Zakah and obey the Messenger that you may receive mercy.
Verse 57:
- “la ta7sabanna allatheena kafaru mu3jizeena fil ard…”: `do not think, O Muhammad,' that: the disbelievers can flee from Allah. No, Allah is able to deal with them and He will punish them most severely for that.
- “ma2wahumu annaru wala bi2sal maseer”: Their abode (final destination, place of rest) shall be the Fire -- how terrible the consequences will be for the disbelievers, how evil a place to stay in and how awful a place to rest!
Verse 58: Another command.. The Times when Servants and Young Children should seek Permission to enter
- “ya ayyuhal latheena aamanu..”: O you who believe!
- “liyasta2thinakumu allatheena malakat aymanukum wallatheena lam yablughu al7uluma minkum…”: Let your slaves and slave-girls, and those among you who have not come to the age of puberty ask your permission
- “thalatha marrat”: on three occasions
- “min qabli salatil fajri, wa7eena tada3oona thiyabakum min ath-thaheera, wa min ba3di salatil 3siha2…”: before the Fajr prayer, and while you put off your clothes during the afternoon, and after the `Isha' prayer.
- “thalthu 3awratin lakum…”: (These) three (times) are of privacy for you
- “laysa 3alaykum wala 3alayhim juna7un ba3dahunn, tawwafoona 3alaykum ba3dukum 3ala ba3d…”: other than these times there is no sin on you or on them to move about, attending to each other.
- “yubayyinu Allahu lakum al-ayat wallahu 3aleemun 7akeem”: Thus Allah makes clear the Ayat to you. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
Verse 59:
- “wa itha balagha al-atfalu minkum al-7uluma…”: And when the children among you come to puberty
- “falyasta2thinu..”: then let them (also) ask for permission
- “kamas-tha2thana allatheena min qablihim…”: as those senior to them (in age) ask permission
- “kathalika yubayyinu Allahu lakum ayatih…”: Thus Allah makes clear His Ayat for you
- “wallahu 3aleemun 7akeem”: And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
Verse 60:
- “wal qawa3idu min annisa2i allati la yarjoona nika7an..”: And the Qawa`id among women who do not hope for marriage
- “fa laysa 3alayhinna juna7un an yada3na thiyabahunna ghara mutabarrijatin bizeenah..”: it is no sin on them if they discard their (outer) clothing in such a way as not to show their adornment
Meaning, they do not have to cover themselves in the same way that younger women have to.
- “wa an yasta3fifna khayrun lahun..”: But to refrain is better for them. Not removing their outer garment, even though that is permissible for them, is better for them.
- “wallahu samee3un 3aleem…”: And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.
Verse 61: Eating from One's Relatives' Houses
- “laysa 3alal a3ma 7araj, wala 3alal a3raji 7araj, wala 3alal mareedi 7araj, wala 3ala anfusikum…”: There is no restriction on the blind, nor any restriction on the lame, nor any restriction on the sick, nor on yourselves
- “an ta2kulu min buyootikum…”: if you eat from your houses
- “aw buyooti aba2ikum aw buyooti 2ummahatikum..”: or the houses of your fathers, or the houses of your mothers
- “aw buyuti ikhwanikum aw buyuti akhawatikum…”: or the houses of your brothers, or the houses of your sisters
- “aw buyuti a3mamikum aw buyuti 3ammatikum…”: or the houses of your father's brothers, or the houses of your father's sisters,
- “aw buyuti akhwalikum aw buyuti khalatikum…”: or the houses of your mother's brothers, or the houses of your mother's sisters
- “aw ma malaktum mafati7ahu..”: or (from that) whereof you hold keys
- “aw sadeeqikum..”: or (from the house) of a friend
- “laysa 3alaykum juna7un an ta2kulu jamee3an aw ashtata…”: No sin on you whether you eat together or apart
-Hadith: a man said to the Prophet , "We eat but we do not feel satisfied.'' He said: (Perhaps you are eating separately. Eat together and mention the Name of Allah, and He will bless the food for you.)
- “fa itha dakhltum buyuta…”: But when you enter the houses
- “fasallimu 3ala anfusakum ta7iyyatan min 3indillahi mubarakatan tayyibatan..”: greet one another with a greeting from Allah, blessed and good
-We are commanded to say salam when we enter a place even if it’s empty, the angels will respond.
- “kathalika yubayyinu Allahu lakumul ayati la3allakum ta3qiloon”: Thus Allah makes clear the Ayat to you that you may understand
Verse 62: Asking Permission to leave
- “Innamal mu2minunal latheena 2amanu billahi warasulihi..”: The believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger
- “wa itha kanu ma3ahu 3ala amrin jami3in…”: and when they are with him on some common matter
- “lam yath-habu 7atta yasta2thinooh…”: they go not away until they have asked his permission
- “innal latheena yasta2thinoonaka…”: Verily, those who ask your permission
- “2ula2ikal latheena yu2minoona billahi warasulihi…”: those are they who (really) believe in Allah and His Messenger
- “fa ithasta2thanooka li ba3di sha2nihim…”: So if they ask your permission for some affairs of theirs
- “fa2than liman shi2ta minhum…”: give permission to whom you will of them
- “wastaghfir lahum Allah..”: and ask Allah for their forgiveness
- “inna Allaha ghafurun ra7eem”: Truly, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Verse 63: The Etiquette of addressing the Prophet
- “la taj3alu du3a2a arrasuli baynakum kadu3a2i ba3dakum ba3da…”: Make not the calling of the Messenger among you as your calling one of another
- “qad ya3lamu Allahu alltheena yatasallaloona minkum liwatha..”: Allah knows those of you who slip away under shelter.
- “falya7thar allatheena yukhlifuna 3an amrihi…”: And let those beware who oppose the Messenger's commandment.
- “an yuseebahum fitnatun aw yuseebahum 3athabun aleem”: lest some Fitnah should befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them.
Verse 64:
- “ala inna lillahi mafissamawati wal ard…”: Certainly, to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth
- “qad ya3lamu ma antum 3alayh…”: Indeed, He knows your condition
- “wa yawma yurja3una ilyhi..”: and the Day when they will be brought back to Him
- “fa yunabbi2uhum bima 3amilu…”: then He will inform them of what they did.
- “wallahu bikulli shay2in 3aleem”: And Allah is All-Knower of everything.
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all that exists, and we ask Him to help us achieve perfection. The end of the Tafsir of Surat An-Nur, to Allah be praise and thanks.
Verse 53:
- “wa aqsamu billahi jahda aymanahum…”: They swear by Allah their strongest oaths
- “la in amartahum layakhrujun…”: that if only you would order them, they would leave
- “Qul: la tuqsimu ta3atun ma3roofah…”: Say: "Swear you not; obedience is known.
- “inna ALlaha khabeerun bima ta3maloon”: Verily, Allah knows well what you do.
Verse 54:
- “qul atee3u Allaha wa atee3u arrasool…”: Say: "Obey Allah and obey the Messenger
- “fa in tawallaw…”: but if they turn away
- “fa innama 3alaiyhi ma 7ummila wa 3alaykum ma 7ummiltum”: he is only responsible for the duty placed on him (conveying the Message and fulfilling the trust) and you for that placed on you (accepting that, and venerating it and doing as it commanded.)
- “wa in tutee3oohu tahtadu”: If you obey him, you shall be on the right guidance, because he calls to the straight path.
- “wama 3ala arrasuli illal-balaghul mubeen”: The Messenger's duty is only to convey (the Message) in a clear way.
Verse 55:
- “wa3ada Allahu allatheena aamanoo minkum wa3amilu assali7at…”: Allah has promised those among you who believe and do righteous good deeds
- “layastakhlifannahum fil ard…”: that He will certainly grant them succession in the land
- “kamas-takhlafa allatheena min qablihim..”: as He granted it to those before them
- “wala yumakinnana lahum deenahum allthee irtada lahum..”: and that He will grant them the authority to practise their religion which He has chosen for them
- “wala yubaddilannahum min ba3di khawfihim amna…”: And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear
- “ya3budoonani la yushrikoona be shay2a…”: if they worship Me and do not associate anything with Me
- “waman kafara ba3da thalika fa 2ula2ika hum al-fasiqoon”: But whoever disbelieved after this, they are the rebellious.
Verse 56:
- “wa aqeemu assalata wa ataw azzakata wa atee3u arrasula la3allakum tur7amoon”: And perform the Salah, and give the Zakah and obey the Messenger that you may receive mercy.
Verse 57:
- “la ta7sabanna allatheena kafaru mu3jizeena fil ard…”: `do not think, O Muhammad,' that: the disbelievers can flee from Allah. No, Allah is able to deal with them and He will punish them most severely for that.
- “ma2wahumu annaru wala bi2sal maseer”: Their abode (final destination, place of rest) shall be the Fire -- how terrible the consequences will be for the disbelievers, how evil a place to stay in and how awful a place to rest!
Verse 58: Another command.. The Times when Servants and Young Children should seek Permission to enter
- “ya ayyuhal latheena aamanu..”: O you who believe!
- “liyasta2thinakumu allatheena malakat aymanukum wallatheena lam yablughu al7uluma minkum…”: Let your slaves and slave-girls, and those among you who have not come to the age of puberty ask your permission
- “thalatha marrat”: on three occasions
- “min qabli salatil fajri, wa7eena tada3oona thiyabakum min ath-thaheera, wa min ba3di salatil 3siha2…”: before the Fajr prayer, and while you put off your clothes during the afternoon, and after the `Isha' prayer.
- “thalthu 3awratin lakum…”: (These) three (times) are of privacy for you
- “laysa 3alaykum wala 3alayhim juna7un ba3dahunn, tawwafoona 3alaykum ba3dukum 3ala ba3d…”: other than these times there is no sin on you or on them to move about, attending to each other.
- “yubayyinu Allahu lakum al-ayat wallahu 3aleemun 7akeem”: Thus Allah makes clear the Ayat to you. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
Verse 59:
- “wa itha balagha al-atfalu minkum al-7uluma…”: And when the children among you come to puberty
- “falyasta2thinu..”: then let them (also) ask for permission
- “kamas-tha2thana allatheena min qablihim…”: as those senior to them (in age) ask permission
- “kathalika yubayyinu Allahu lakum ayatih…”: Thus Allah makes clear His Ayat for you
- “wallahu 3aleemun 7akeem”: And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
Verse 60:
- “wal qawa3idu min annisa2i allati la yarjoona nika7an..”: And the Qawa`id among women who do not hope for marriage
- “fa laysa 3alayhinna juna7un an yada3na thiyabahunna ghara mutabarrijatin bizeenah..”: it is no sin on them if they discard their (outer) clothing in such a way as not to show their adornment
Meaning, they do not have to cover themselves in the same way that younger women have to.
- “wa an yasta3fifna khayrun lahun..”: But to refrain is better for them. Not removing their outer garment, even though that is permissible for them, is better for them.
- “wallahu samee3un 3aleem…”: And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.
Verse 61: Eating from One's Relatives' Houses
- “laysa 3alal a3ma 7araj, wala 3alal a3raji 7araj, wala 3alal mareedi 7araj, wala 3ala anfusikum…”: There is no restriction on the blind, nor any restriction on the lame, nor any restriction on the sick, nor on yourselves
- “an ta2kulu min buyootikum…”: if you eat from your houses
- “aw buyooti aba2ikum aw buyooti 2ummahatikum..”: or the houses of your fathers, or the houses of your mothers
- “aw buyuti ikhwanikum aw buyuti akhawatikum…”: or the houses of your brothers, or the houses of your sisters
- “aw buyuti a3mamikum aw buyuti 3ammatikum…”: or the houses of your father's brothers, or the houses of your father's sisters,
- “aw buyuti akhwalikum aw buyuti khalatikum…”: or the houses of your mother's brothers, or the houses of your mother's sisters
- “aw ma malaktum mafati7ahu..”: or (from that) whereof you hold keys
- “aw sadeeqikum..”: or (from the house) of a friend
- “laysa 3alaykum juna7un an ta2kulu jamee3an aw ashtata…”: No sin on you whether you eat together or apart
-Hadith: a man said to the Prophet , "We eat but we do not feel satisfied.'' He said: (Perhaps you are eating separately. Eat together and mention the Name of Allah, and He will bless the food for you.)
- “fa itha dakhltum buyuta…”: But when you enter the houses
- “fasallimu 3ala anfusakum ta7iyyatan min 3indillahi mubarakatan tayyibatan..”: greet one another with a greeting from Allah, blessed and good
-We are commanded to say salam when we enter a place even if it’s empty, the angels will respond.
- “kathalika yubayyinu Allahu lakumul ayati la3allakum ta3qiloon”: Thus Allah makes clear the Ayat to you that you may understand
Verse 62: Asking Permission to leave
- “Innamal mu2minunal latheena 2amanu billahi warasulihi..”: The believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger
- “wa itha kanu ma3ahu 3ala amrin jami3in…”: and when they are with him on some common matter
- “lam yath-habu 7atta yasta2thinooh…”: they go not away until they have asked his permission
- “innal latheena yasta2thinoonaka…”: Verily, those who ask your permission
- “2ula2ikal latheena yu2minoona billahi warasulihi…”: those are they who (really) believe in Allah and His Messenger
- “fa ithasta2thanooka li ba3di sha2nihim…”: So if they ask your permission for some affairs of theirs
- “fa2than liman shi2ta minhum…”: give permission to whom you will of them
- “wastaghfir lahum Allah..”: and ask Allah for their forgiveness
- “inna Allaha ghafurun ra7eem”: Truly, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Verse 63: The Etiquette of addressing the Prophet
- “la taj3alu du3a2a arrasuli baynakum kadu3a2i ba3dakum ba3da…”: Make not the calling of the Messenger among you as your calling one of another
- “qad ya3lamu Allahu alltheena yatasallaloona minkum liwatha..”: Allah knows those of you who slip away under shelter.
- “falya7thar allatheena yukhlifuna 3an amrihi…”: And let those beware who oppose the Messenger's commandment.
- “an yuseebahum fitnatun aw yuseebahum 3athabun aleem”: lest some Fitnah should befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them.
Verse 64:
- “ala inna lillahi mafissamawati wal ard…”: Certainly, to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth
- “qad ya3lamu ma antum 3alayh…”: Indeed, He knows your condition
- “wa yawma yurja3una ilyhi..”: and the Day when they will be brought back to Him
- “fa yunabbi2uhum bima 3amilu…”: then He will inform them of what they did.
- “wallahu bikulli shay2in 3aleem”: And Allah is All-Knower of everything.
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all that exists, and we ask Him to help us achieve perfection. The end of the Tafsir of Surat An-Nur, to Allah be praise and thanks.
Monday, June 18, 2007
June 14th: Surat An-Nour (part 3)
Assalamu alaikum wrahmatullah,
this week we covered verses 35-52 of Surat An-Nour, here's a quick summary:
Verse 35:
- “Allahu nurus-samawati wal ardh…”: Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth.
- “Mathalu noorihi…”: The parable of His Light…
- “kamishkatin…”: as (if there were) a niche.
- “feeha misba7…”: and within it a lamp.
- “almisba7u fee zujajah…”: the lamp is in clear glass
- “azujajatu ka2annaha kawkabun duriyy…”: the glass is as if it were a shining bright star made of pearls…
- “Yuwqadu min shajaratin mubarakah…”: lit from a blessed tree
- “zaytunatin…”: an olive tree
- “la sharqiyatin wala gharbiyyah…”: neither of the east nor of the west
-means, it is not in the eastern part of the land so that it does not get any sun in the first part of the day, nor is it in the western part of the land so that it is shaded from the sun before sunset, but it is in a central position where it gets sun from the beginning of the day until the end, so its oil is good and pure and shining.
- “yakadu zaytuha yudhee2u walaw lam tamsashu nar…”: whose oil would almost glow forth (by itself), though no fire touched it.
- “nurun 3ala nur…”: Light upon light.
- “yahdillahu linoorihi man yasha2…”: Allah guides to His Light whom He wills.
- “wa yadribullahul-2amthala linnasi wallahu bikulli shay2in 3aleem”: And Allah sets forth parables for mankind, and Allah is All-Knower of everything.
Verse 36:
- “fee buyutin athina Allahu 2an turfa3a…”: In houses which Allah has ordered to be raised
- “wa yuthkara feeha ismuh..”: in them His Name is remembered.
- “yusabbi7u lahu feeha bilghuduwi wal asali rijal.”: Therein glorify Him in the mornings and in the evenings.
Verse 37:
- “Rijalun la tulheehim tijaratun wala bay3un 3an thikr Allah wa eeqam assalati wa 2eeta2i zzakati…”: Men whom neither trade nor business diverts from the remembrance of Allah nor from performing the Salah nor from giving the Zakah
- “yakhafoona yawman tatawallabu feehil qulubu walabsar”: They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will be overturned.)
Verse 38:
- “liyajziyahumu Allahu ahsana ma 3amiloo…”: That Allah may reward them according to the best of their deeds…Meaning that their evil deeds will be overlooked.
- “wa yazeedahum min fadhlih…”: and add even more for them out of His grace. Meaning that Allah will even multiply their good deeds.
- “Wallahu yarzuqu man yasha2u bighayri 7isab.”: And Allah provides without measure to whom He wills.
Verse 39: Two Parables of Disbelief
- “wallatheena kafaroo a3maluhum kasarabin biqee3ah…”: As for those who disbelieved, their deeds are like a mirage in a vast flat land
- “ya7sabuhu atham2anu ma2a..”: The thirsty one thinks it to be water
- “7atta itha ja2ahu lam yajdhu shay2a…”: until he comes to it, he finds it to be nothing
- “wawajada Allaha 3indahu…”: but he finds Allah with him
- “fawaffahu 7isabah”: and Allah reckoned his actions and gave him his due
- “wallahu saree3ul 7isab”: and Allah is swift/quick in taking account.
1) This is the parable of the righteous works of a disbeliever, they are like a mirage.
The disbeliever thinks that he is doing something good and that he has achieved something, but when Allah judges him on the Day of Resurrection, and brings him to account and examines his deeds, he will find that nothing has been accepted at all.
Verse 40:
- “aw kathulumatin fee ba7rin lujjiyyin…”: Or like the darkness in a vast deep sea
- “yaghshahu mawjun min fawqihi mawjun min fawqihi sa7ab…”: overwhelmed with waves topped by waves, topped by dark clouds
- “thulumatun ba3dhuha fawqa ba3d…”: layers of darkness upon darkness
- “itha akhraja yadahu lam yakad yaraha…”: if a man stretches out his hand, he can hardly see it!
- “wa man lam yaj3al Allahu lahu nouran fa malahu min nour”: And he for whom Allah has not appointed light, for him there is no light
2) This is the parable of the heart of the disbeliever heart is so dark and just has darkness upon darkness.
Verse 41:
- “Alam tara anna Allaha yusabbi7u lahu man fissamawati wal ardh”: didn’t you see how Allah is glorified by remembrance from everything that is in the heavens and the earth
- “wattayru saffatin…”: and the birds with wings outstretched
- Meaning, while they are flying they glorify their Lord and worship Him with the glorification with which they are inspired and to which they are guided.
- “kullun qad 3alima salatahu watasbee7ah…”: meaning, He has guided every creature to its own way of worshiping Allah
- “wallahu 3aleemun bima yaf3aloon”: and Allah is All-Aware of what they do
Verse 42:
- “wa lillahi mulku assamawati wal ardh wa ila Allah almasseer”: And to Allah belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, and to Allah is the return (on the day of judgement).
Verse 43: The Power of Allah to create the Clouds and that which comes from Them
- “alam tara anna Allaha yuzjee sa7aban…”: See you not that Allah drives the clouds gently
- “thumma yu2allifu baynahu…”: then joins them together after they have been scattered
- “thumma yaj3alhu rukama…”: then makes them into a heap of layers, He piles on top of each other.
- “fataral wadqa yakhruju min khilaleh..”: and you see the rain come forth from between them
- “wa yunazzilu min assama2i min jibalin feeha min barad…”: and He sends down from the sky, from mountains in it of ice..this is a metaphor for the clouds in the sky that bring down the hail.. they are great as mountains.
- “fa yuseebu bihi man yasha2…”: and strikes therewith whom He wills
- “wa yasrifhu 3amman yasha2…”: and averts it from whom He wills
-Allah lets the blessing of rain/ the punishment of hail reach whomever He wills, and it will not reach whoever He wills.
- “yakadu sana barqihi yath-habu bil absar”: The vivid flash of its (clouds) lightning nearly blinds the sight.
Verse 44:
- “yuqallibu Allahu allayla wannahar..”: Allah causes the night and the day to succeed each other
- “inna fee thalika la3ibratan li2ulil absar.”: Truly, in this is indeed a lesson for those who have insight.
Verse 45: Allah's Power in His creation of the Animals
- “wallahu khalaqa kulla dabbatin min maa2…”: Allah has created every moving creature from water
- “faminhum man yamshee 3ala batnihi..”: Of them there are some that creep on their bellies (like snakes)
- “waminhum man yamshee 3ala rijlayn…”: and some that walk on two legs (like humans)
- “wa minhum man yamshee 3ala arba3…”: and some that walk on four (like cattle)
- “yakhluqul Allahu ma yasha2…”: Allah creates what He wills
- “Inna Allaha 3ala kulli shay2in qadeer”: Verily, Allah is able to do all things
-So everything was created from water, yet look at the vast differences of species that exist.
Verse 46:
- “laqad anzalna ayatin mubayyinatin wallahu yahdee man yasha2u ila siratin mustaqeem”: We have indeed sent down manifest Ayat. And Allah guides whom He wills to the straight path
Verse 47: The Treachery of the Hypocrites and the Attitude of the Believers
- “wa yaqooluna 2amanna billahi warrasuli wa ata3na..”: They say: "We have believed in Allah and in the Messenger, and we obey,''
- “thumma yatawalla rafeequn minhum min ba3di thalika…”: then a party of them turn away thereafter
- “wa ma 2ula2ika bilmu2mineen..”: such are not believers..those are the hypocrites who say what they don’t believe.
Verse 48:
- “wa itha du3oo ila Allahi warasulihi liya7kuma baynahum..”: And when they are called to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them
- “itha fareequn minhum mu3ridhoon”: a party of them refuses and turns away.
Verse 49:
- “ wa in yakun lahumul-7aqqu ya2tu ilayhi muth3ineen”: But if the truth is on their side, they come to him willingly with submission
Verse 50:
- “afee qulubihim maradun am irtabu…”: Is there a disease in their hearts Or do they doubt The Prophet?
- “am yakhafoona an ya7eefa Allahu 3alayhim warasuluhu..”: or do they fear that Allah and His Messenger should wrong them in judgment
- “bal 2ula2ika hum atthalimoon”: no, it is they themselves who are the wrongdoers.
Verse 51: on the other hand look at what the believers do…
- “innama kana qawla almu2mineena itha du3oo ila Allahi warasulhi liya7kuma baynahum..”: The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allah and His Messenger, to judge between them
- “an yaqoolu sami3na wa ata3na…”: is that they say: "We hear and we obey
- “wa 2ula2ika humul mufli7oon”: And such are the successful
Verse 52:
- “wa man yuti3 Allaha warasoolahu…”: And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger
- “wa yakhsha Allaha…”: fears Allah..from the past sins one has committed
- “wa yattaqihi…”: and has Taqwa of Him in being careful not to commit anymore sins
- “fa 2ula2ika huml fa2izoon”: such are the successful in this world and the next one.
wassalamu alaikum,
Dana
this week we covered verses 35-52 of Surat An-Nour, here's a quick summary:
Verse 35:
- “Allahu nurus-samawati wal ardh…”: Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth.
- “Mathalu noorihi…”: The parable of His Light…
- “kamishkatin…”: as (if there were) a niche.
- “feeha misba7…”: and within it a lamp.
- “almisba7u fee zujajah…”: the lamp is in clear glass
- “azujajatu ka2annaha kawkabun duriyy…”: the glass is as if it were a shining bright star made of pearls…
- “Yuwqadu min shajaratin mubarakah…”: lit from a blessed tree
- “zaytunatin…”: an olive tree
- “la sharqiyatin wala gharbiyyah…”: neither of the east nor of the west
-means, it is not in the eastern part of the land so that it does not get any sun in the first part of the day, nor is it in the western part of the land so that it is shaded from the sun before sunset, but it is in a central position where it gets sun from the beginning of the day until the end, so its oil is good and pure and shining.
- “yakadu zaytuha yudhee2u walaw lam tamsashu nar…”: whose oil would almost glow forth (by itself), though no fire touched it.
- “nurun 3ala nur…”: Light upon light.
- “yahdillahu linoorihi man yasha2…”: Allah guides to His Light whom He wills.
- “wa yadribullahul-2amthala linnasi wallahu bikulli shay2in 3aleem”: And Allah sets forth parables for mankind, and Allah is All-Knower of everything.
Verse 36:
- “fee buyutin athina Allahu 2an turfa3a…”: In houses which Allah has ordered to be raised
- “wa yuthkara feeha ismuh..”: in them His Name is remembered.
- “yusabbi7u lahu feeha bilghuduwi wal asali rijal.”: Therein glorify Him in the mornings and in the evenings.
Verse 37:
- “Rijalun la tulheehim tijaratun wala bay3un 3an thikr Allah wa eeqam assalati wa 2eeta2i zzakati…”: Men whom neither trade nor business diverts from the remembrance of Allah nor from performing the Salah nor from giving the Zakah
- “yakhafoona yawman tatawallabu feehil qulubu walabsar”: They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will be overturned.)
Verse 38:
- “liyajziyahumu Allahu ahsana ma 3amiloo…”: That Allah may reward them according to the best of their deeds…Meaning that their evil deeds will be overlooked.
- “wa yazeedahum min fadhlih…”: and add even more for them out of His grace. Meaning that Allah will even multiply their good deeds.
- “Wallahu yarzuqu man yasha2u bighayri 7isab.”: And Allah provides without measure to whom He wills.
Verse 39: Two Parables of Disbelief
- “wallatheena kafaroo a3maluhum kasarabin biqee3ah…”: As for those who disbelieved, their deeds are like a mirage in a vast flat land
- “ya7sabuhu atham2anu ma2a..”: The thirsty one thinks it to be water
- “7atta itha ja2ahu lam yajdhu shay2a…”: until he comes to it, he finds it to be nothing
- “wawajada Allaha 3indahu…”: but he finds Allah with him
- “fawaffahu 7isabah”: and Allah reckoned his actions and gave him his due
- “wallahu saree3ul 7isab”: and Allah is swift/quick in taking account.
1) This is the parable of the righteous works of a disbeliever, they are like a mirage.
The disbeliever thinks that he is doing something good and that he has achieved something, but when Allah judges him on the Day of Resurrection, and brings him to account and examines his deeds, he will find that nothing has been accepted at all.
Verse 40:
- “aw kathulumatin fee ba7rin lujjiyyin…”: Or like the darkness in a vast deep sea
- “yaghshahu mawjun min fawqihi mawjun min fawqihi sa7ab…”: overwhelmed with waves topped by waves, topped by dark clouds
- “thulumatun ba3dhuha fawqa ba3d…”: layers of darkness upon darkness
- “itha akhraja yadahu lam yakad yaraha…”: if a man stretches out his hand, he can hardly see it!
- “wa man lam yaj3al Allahu lahu nouran fa malahu min nour”: And he for whom Allah has not appointed light, for him there is no light
2) This is the parable of the heart of the disbeliever heart is so dark and just has darkness upon darkness.
Verse 41:
- “Alam tara anna Allaha yusabbi7u lahu man fissamawati wal ardh”: didn’t you see how Allah is glorified by remembrance from everything that is in the heavens and the earth
- “wattayru saffatin…”: and the birds with wings outstretched
- Meaning, while they are flying they glorify their Lord and worship Him with the glorification with which they are inspired and to which they are guided.
- “kullun qad 3alima salatahu watasbee7ah…”: meaning, He has guided every creature to its own way of worshiping Allah
- “wallahu 3aleemun bima yaf3aloon”: and Allah is All-Aware of what they do
Verse 42:
- “wa lillahi mulku assamawati wal ardh wa ila Allah almasseer”: And to Allah belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, and to Allah is the return (on the day of judgement).
Verse 43: The Power of Allah to create the Clouds and that which comes from Them
- “alam tara anna Allaha yuzjee sa7aban…”: See you not that Allah drives the clouds gently
- “thumma yu2allifu baynahu…”: then joins them together after they have been scattered
- “thumma yaj3alhu rukama…”: then makes them into a heap of layers, He piles on top of each other.
- “fataral wadqa yakhruju min khilaleh..”: and you see the rain come forth from between them
- “wa yunazzilu min assama2i min jibalin feeha min barad…”: and He sends down from the sky, from mountains in it of ice..this is a metaphor for the clouds in the sky that bring down the hail.. they are great as mountains.
- “fa yuseebu bihi man yasha2…”: and strikes therewith whom He wills
- “wa yasrifhu 3amman yasha2…”: and averts it from whom He wills
-Allah lets the blessing of rain/ the punishment of hail reach whomever He wills, and it will not reach whoever He wills.
- “yakadu sana barqihi yath-habu bil absar”: The vivid flash of its (clouds) lightning nearly blinds the sight.
Verse 44:
- “yuqallibu Allahu allayla wannahar..”: Allah causes the night and the day to succeed each other
- “inna fee thalika la3ibratan li2ulil absar.”: Truly, in this is indeed a lesson for those who have insight.
Verse 45: Allah's Power in His creation of the Animals
- “wallahu khalaqa kulla dabbatin min maa2…”: Allah has created every moving creature from water
- “faminhum man yamshee 3ala batnihi..”: Of them there are some that creep on their bellies (like snakes)
- “waminhum man yamshee 3ala rijlayn…”: and some that walk on two legs (like humans)
- “wa minhum man yamshee 3ala arba3…”: and some that walk on four (like cattle)
- “yakhluqul Allahu ma yasha2…”: Allah creates what He wills
- “Inna Allaha 3ala kulli shay2in qadeer”: Verily, Allah is able to do all things
-So everything was created from water, yet look at the vast differences of species that exist.
Verse 46:
- “laqad anzalna ayatin mubayyinatin wallahu yahdee man yasha2u ila siratin mustaqeem”: We have indeed sent down manifest Ayat. And Allah guides whom He wills to the straight path
Verse 47: The Treachery of the Hypocrites and the Attitude of the Believers
- “wa yaqooluna 2amanna billahi warrasuli wa ata3na..”: They say: "We have believed in Allah and in the Messenger, and we obey,''
- “thumma yatawalla rafeequn minhum min ba3di thalika…”: then a party of them turn away thereafter
- “wa ma 2ula2ika bilmu2mineen..”: such are not believers..those are the hypocrites who say what they don’t believe.
Verse 48:
- “wa itha du3oo ila Allahi warasulihi liya7kuma baynahum..”: And when they are called to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them
- “itha fareequn minhum mu3ridhoon”: a party of them refuses and turns away.
Verse 49:
- “ wa in yakun lahumul-7aqqu ya2tu ilayhi muth3ineen”: But if the truth is on their side, they come to him willingly with submission
Verse 50:
- “afee qulubihim maradun am irtabu…”: Is there a disease in their hearts Or do they doubt The Prophet?
- “am yakhafoona an ya7eefa Allahu 3alayhim warasuluhu..”: or do they fear that Allah and His Messenger should wrong them in judgment
- “bal 2ula2ika hum atthalimoon”: no, it is they themselves who are the wrongdoers.
Verse 51: on the other hand look at what the believers do…
- “innama kana qawla almu2mineena itha du3oo ila Allahi warasulhi liya7kuma baynahum..”: The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allah and His Messenger, to judge between them
- “an yaqoolu sami3na wa ata3na…”: is that they say: "We hear and we obey
- “wa 2ula2ika humul mufli7oon”: And such are the successful
Verse 52:
- “wa man yuti3 Allaha warasoolahu…”: And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger
- “wa yakhsha Allaha…”: fears Allah..from the past sins one has committed
- “wa yattaqihi…”: and has Taqwa of Him in being careful not to commit anymore sins
- “fa 2ula2ika huml fa2izoon”: such are the successful in this world and the next one.
wassalamu alaikum,
Dana
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