Sunday, November 17, 2013

Meaning of al-Ihsaan

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Saaleh al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

Then (Jibreel عليه السلام) said: “Tell me about al-Ihsaan.” Al-Ihsaan is a derivative of Ahsan (better) Yuhsan (improve), and it is (exerting efforts in) doing good.

Doing al-Ihsaan in the rights of the Creator (means): The foundation of one’s worship is based on: a) sincerity to Allaah تعالى and b) in accordance with the (Sunnah) of the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم. So whenever a person is (more) sincere and (more precise) in following (the Sunnah), the better he gets. 

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Tafseer: {The way Shaitaan plots}

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

In continuation of the previous post: “The eight facts about Shaitaan’s plot”, the following is further explanation of the points mentioned in that post from the following Books of Tafseer:

1. Tafseer al-Muyassar - King Fahad Qur'aan Printing Press.
2. Tafseer Ibn Katheer.
3. Tafseer al-Tabaree.
4. Tafseer al-Sa`dee.

**********

Allaah تعالى said:

﴿قَالَ فَبِمَا أَغْوَيْتَنِي لَأَقْعُدَنَّ لَهُمْ صِرَاطَكَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ * ثُمَّ لَآتِيَنَّهُم مِّن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَعَنْ أَيْمَانِهِمْ وَعَن شَمَائِلِهِمْ ۖ وَلَا تَجِدُ أَكْثَرَهُمْ شَاكِرِينَ﴾

{(Iblees) said: “Because You have sent me astray, surely I will sit in wait against them (human beings) on Your Straight Path. Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left, and You will not find most of them as thankful ones (i.e. they will not be dutiful to You).”} [Surah al-A`raaf (7): 16-17]

Monday, November 11, 2013

A few facts about Shaitaan’s plot:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

The eight facts about Shaitaan’s plot:

1.       Shaitaan has ways of deceiving people.
2.       These ways are limited and they never change.
3.       For centuries he has been misleading the people with the same tactics.
4.       He approaches different people from different angles.
5.       We have been informed by Allaah تعالى in the Qur’aan and through His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم about all his many different tactics and how to protect ourselves from them.
6.       His plots are weak.
7.       The strength of Shaitaan is inversely proportional to our Imaan; meaning, the one with weak Imaan will easily fall prey to his plots and whispers. But the ones with strong Imaan will have little or no effects from his plots and whispers.
8.       All this is possible only by Allaah’s Will.


Sunday, November 10, 2013

The Characteristics of a Da`ee (caller to Islaam):



بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Shaikh al-Islaam, Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said:

“No doubt (the Da`ee) should have these three (qualities):

1. Knowledge.
2. Gentleness.
3. Sabr.

Knowledge before enjoining (good) and forbidding (evil), gentleness while doing that, and Sabr after doing that.”

[al-Istiqaamah (2/233)]

Friday, November 1, 2013

From the statements of the Salaf regarding Du`aa

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

1. Being guided towards making Du`aa is itself a big success:

`Umar bin al-Khattaab رضي الله عنه said: “I am not concerned about the response, but what concerns me is the Du`aa (itself). If the Du`aa is inspired*, then the answer (surely) follows it.” [Iqtidhaa al-Siraat al-Mustaqeem (2/706)]

* Meaning: Allaah تعالى guides a person to make Du`aa, then teaches him how to make it, then assists him in making it, and then grants him what he has requested. Like how Allaah تعالى taught Aadam عليه السلام the words of repentance and thereafter forgave him:

Monday, October 21, 2013

Clothe Imaan with Taqwa:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Wahb bin Munabbih رحمه الله said:

“Imaan (Faith) is naked, its clothes are al-Taqwa (Piety / God-consciousness), its beauty is al-Hayaa (Modesty) and its wealth is in its Fiqh (Understanding).”


[Sifatu al-Safwah (2/291)]

When you are feeling helpless:



بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Remember that Surah Yusuf was revealed in “the Year of Sorrow” (`aam al-Huzn) when the uncle and wife of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم passed away.[1]

Therein, Allaah تعالى says: {And Allaah has full power and control over His Affairs, but most of men know not.} [Surah Yusuf (12):21]

A 100 years after that Surah was revealed, Islaam reached Spain! Allaah kept His promise then - Allaah will surely keep it with us. Do you have any doubt?

Ibn `Ataa said: "No one who is afflicted by distress hears this Surah, except that he will find solace in it." [Tafseer al-Baghawee (2/474)]

*******

[1] There is no authentic narration to confirm the exact reason and time for the revelation of this Surah, but this is what is most famous regarding it among the historians and that it was revealed 2-3 years before the Hijrah. And Allaah knows best.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Loving the Kuffaar?!

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

To all the brothers who have been praising the Kuffaar (sports personalities, film celebrities etc.) for their achievements, calling them legends or feeling sorrow upon their death:

Know that your love and hate should be for the sake of Allaah تعالى. This is what the Tawheed demands from us.

Helping a Kaafir to fulfill his needs, dealing justly and kindly with him is one thing, but praising him or showing affection towards him is not allowed (even for worldly reasons) while he is mocking at Allaah and associating partners with Him.

Friday, October 18, 2013

When does Falsehood overtakes the Truth?

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

It was said to Imaam Ahmad رحمه الله during the days of ordeal:

O Abu `Abdullaah! Don’t you see how falsehood has overtaken the truth?

Imaam Ahmad said: “Nay! Falsehood overtaking the truth is when the hearts deviate from guidance to misguidance, whereas our hearts, even after (these ordeals), are still clinging to the truth.”


[Siyar A`laam al-Nubalaa’ of Imaam al-Dhahabee (11/238)]

Monday, October 14, 2013

Quick tips: Rulings pertaining to the sacrificial offering:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

1. The time:
The time-frame for slaughtering is four days:
- The first day after the Eid prayer.
- Which continues for three days after it, till sunset on the 13th (of Dhul-Hijjah).
- It is permissible to slaughter in the day as well as the night.
[Fataawa Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله (25/167)]
******* 

Saturday, October 12, 2013

An expert’s view on the evils of the Khawaarij:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Wahab Ibn Munabbih [1] رحمه الله said:

I reached (an era) of early Islaam.

- By Allaah! The Khawaarij never had a group, except that Allaah تعالى divided them because of the evil that they were upon.

- There was none from them who had made known his opinion, except that Allaah تعالى struck his neck.

Friday, October 11, 2013

The family of Prophet Zakariyya عليه السلام:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

In the Qur’aan, the story of Zakariyya عليه السلام has already been mentioned in detail at the beginning of Surah Maryam and also in Surah aal-`Imraan. Here, in Surah al-Anbiyaa’, a summarized version is given:

﴿وَزَكَرِيَّا إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِي فَرْدًا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْوَارِثِينَ * فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ يَحْيَىٰ وَأَصْلَحْنَا لَهُ زَوْجَهُ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَيَدْعُونَنَا رَغَبًا وَرَهَبًا ۖ وَكَانُوا لَنَا خَاشِعِينَ﴾

{And (remember) Zakariyya, when he cried to his Lord: “O My Lord! Leave me not single (childless), though You are the Best of the inheritors.” * So We answered his call, and We bestowed upon him Yahya, and cured his wife (to bear a child) for him. Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds, and they used to call on Us with hope and fear, and used to humble themselves before Us.} [Surah al-Anbiyaa’ (21): 89-90]

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

{So what is left after the truth except misguidance?} [Surah Yunus (10): 32]



بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد
 
As the saying goes:

هَلَكَ مَن تَرَك

Destroyed is he who abandons (the Sunnah).

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Prohibition of concealing the truth:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Do not let the fear of the people or their status in the society or their relation with you or the fear of being labeled prevents you from speaking the truth.

Allaah تعالى said:

﴿وَلَا تَلْبِسُوا الْحَقَّ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُوا الْحَقَّ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ﴾

{And mix not truth with falsehood, nor conceal the truth while you know (the truth).} [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 42]

Monday, October 7, 2013

Weakness of the Hadeeth: rewards are multiplied 700 times in Dhul-Hijjah



بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

[Note: there are many authentic Ahaadeeth on the virtues of the first 10 Days of Dhul-Hijjah, but the two quoted below are weak with these wordings.]

Hadeeth 1:

From the route of Mas`ood Ibn Waasil on the authority of Nahhaas bin Qahm on the authority of Qataadah on the authority of Sa`eed bin al-Musayyib on the authority of Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

[First part of the Hadeeth] “There are no days more loved to Allaah for you to worship Him therein than the ten days of Dhul Hijjah.” [Second part] “Fasting any day during it is equivalent to fasting one year and to offer salatul tahajjud (late-night prayer) during one of its nights is like performing the late night prayer on the night of power. [i.e., Lailatul Qadr].”

[Related by at-Tirmidhee in his Sunan (758), Ibn Maajah in his Sunan (1728), and al-Baihaqi in Shu`ab al-Imaan (3480)]

Hadeeth 2:

The importance of the first 10 Days of Dhul-Hijjah:


بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ

{BY the ten nights (i.e. the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah)} [Surah al-Fajr (89):2]

The `Arabic letter “و" (waw), which translated here as “By”, is understood to stand for the phrase “I swear by” and designates an oath.

The fact that Allaah تعالى took oath by these nights, shows their importance. Allaah تعالى never takes an oath of something** except that that thing has importance; and Allaah تعالى never takes an oath except that what is to follow is an important news.

Like the nights of Ramadhaan, these are the 10 most beloved days to Allaah. So take this opportunity to do more good deeds and shun all evil.

Baarak Allaahu feekum.

**Elsewhere in the Qur’aan, Allaah تعالى takes oath of celestial bodies (stars, planets), of the Qur’aan etc. Allaah تعالى can take an oath by whatever He تعالى wills, be it Himself, His creations, His revelation. But it is unacceptable that a man should take an oath except in the name of Allaah.

Narrated Ibn `Abbaas رضي الله عنه: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijja).” Then some companions of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Not even Jihad?” He صلى الله عليه وسلم replied: “Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allaah's sake) and does not return with any of those things.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree Vol. 2, Hadeeth (86)]

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم also said: “There are no days greater or more loved by Allaah in which to perform good deeds other than these 10 days, therefore praise and glorify Allaah abundantly in these days.” [Musnad Ahmad (1968) and it is Saheeh]