Makkah
May 16
'Ibadah, (2) Solat (Prayer), (5) Hajj (Pilgrimage), Allah SWT, Ibrahim (Abraham), Makkah, Masjid, Muhammad SAW No Comments
(via tumblr)
The Ansari And Three Arrows
Jan 21
(2) Solat (Prayer), Jihad, Sahabah (Companions), Sunan Abu Dawood No Comments
Narrated by Jabir ibnu ‘Abdullah (RA) :
We proceeded in the company of the Allah’s Messenger (SAW) for the battle of Dhat ar-Riqa. One of the Muslims killed the wife of one of the unbelievers. He (the husband of the woman killed) took an oath saying :
I shall not rest until I kill one of the companions of Muhammad.
He went out following the footsteps of Allah’s Messenger (SAW). Allah’s Messenger (SAW) encamped at a certain place. He said :
Who will keep a watch on us ?
A person from the Muhajirun (Emigrants) and another from the Ansar (Helpers) responded.
He said :
Go to the mouth of the mountain-pass.
When they went to the mouth of the mountain-pass the man from the Muhajirun lay down while the man from the Ansar stood praying.
The man (enemy) came to them. When he saw the person he realised that he was the watchman of the Muslims. He shot him with an arrow and hit the target. But he (took the arrow out and) threw it away. He (the enemy) then shot three arrows. Then he (the Muslim) bowed and prostrated and awoke his companion. When he (the enemy) perceived that they (the Muslims) had become aware of his presence, he ran away.
When the man from the Muhajirun saw the (man from the Ansar) bleeding, he asked him :
Glory be to Allah ! Why did you not wake me up the first time when he shot at you ?
He replied :
I was busy reciting a chapter of Al-Qur’an. I did not like to leave it.
[ Sunan Abu Dawood, Book 1, No. 0198 ]
**********
Masha-Allaah, notice how khushoo’ the Ansari was in performing his solat ?
* Read : How to Taste the Sweetness of Prayer.
Children
Jan 20
Family, Jihad, Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid, Sadaqah No Comments
Allah’s Messenger (salla-Allaahu-’alayhi-wa-sallam) said :
Children are the cause of grief, cowardice, ignorance and miserliness.
[ Reported by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer, 24/241; Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1990 ]
When he said that children are the cause of grief, he meant that when a child gets sick, the parent feels grief; if the child asks for something that the father cannot provide, this grieves the father; and if the child grows up and rebels against his father, this is a cause of ongoing grief and distress.
When he said that children are the cause of cowardliness, he meant that when a man wants to fight in jihaad for the sake of Allaah, the Shaytaan comes to him and says, “You will be killed and will die, and your children will become orphans, lost and alone”, so he stays home and does not go out for jihaad.
When he said that children are the cause of ignorance, he meant that they distract a father from seeking knowledge and trying to acquire learning by attending gatherings and reading books.
When he said that they are the cause of miserliness, he meant that if a man wants to spend for the sake of Allaah, the Shaytaan reminds him of his children, so he thinks, “My children deserve the money, I will leave it for them when I die”, so he is miserly in the sense that he refrains from spending it for the sake of Allaah.
[ Weakness of Faith By Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid ]
The Roman General Who Became Shuhada
May 23
Jihad, Khalid ibn Al-Waleed, Sahabah (Companions), Yarmuk No Comments
This was recorded prior to the Battle of Yarmuk.
At dawn the Muslim corps lined up for prayers under their respective commanders. As soon as the prayers were over, every man rushed to his assigned place. By sunrise both armies stood in battle order, facing each other across the centre of the Plain of Yarmuk, a little less than a mile apart.
There was no movement and little noise in the two armies. The soldiers knew that this was a fight to the finish, that one of the two armies would lie shattered on the battlefield before the fight was over. The Muslims gazed in wonder at the splendid formations of the Roman legions with banners flying and crosses raised above the heads of the soldiery. The Romans looked with something less than awe at the Muslim army deployed to their front. Their confidence rested on their great numbers, but during the past two years the performance of the Muslims in Syria had instilled a good deal of respect in the hearts of the Romans. There was a look of caution in Roman eyes. Thus an hour passed during which no one stirred and the soldiers awaited the start of a battle which, according to the chroniclers, “began with sparks of fire and ended with a raging conflagration”, and of which “each day was more violent than the day before.”
Then a Roman general by the name of George emerged from the Roman centre and rode towards the Muslims. Halting a short distance from the Muslim centre, he raised his voice and asked for Khalid. From the Muslim side Khalid rode out, delighted at the thought that the battle would begin with himself fighting a duel. He would set the pace for the rest of the battle.
As Khalid drew near, the Roman made no move to draw his sword, but continued to look intently at Khalid. The Muslim advanced until the necks of the horses crossed, and still George did not draw his sword. Then he spoke, in Arabic: “O Khalid, tell me the truth and do not deceive me, for the free do not lie and the noble do not deceive. Is it true that Allah sent a sword from heaven to your Prophet ? … and that he gave it to you ? …and that never have you drawn it but your enemies have been defeated?”
“No!” replied Khalid.
“Then why are you known as the Sword of Allah?”
Here Khalid told George the story of how he received the title of Sword of Allah from the Holy Prophet. George pondered this a while, then with a pensive look in his eyes, asked, “Tell me, to what do you call me?”
“To bear witness”, Khalid replied, “that there is no Allah but Allah and Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger; and to believe in what he has brought from Allah.”
“If I do not agree?”
“Then the Jizya, and you shall be under our protection.”
“If I still do not agree?”
“Then the sword!”
George considered the words of Khalid for a few moments, then asked, “What is the position of one who enters your faith today?”
“In our faith there is only one position. All are equal.”
“Then I accept your faith!”
To the astonishment of the two armies, which knew nothing of what had passed between the two generals, Khalid turned his horse and Muslim and Roman rode slowly to the Muslim army. On arrival at the Muslim centre George repeated after Khalid: “There is no Allah but Allah; Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah!”
(A few hours later the newlyconverted George would fight heroically for the faith which he had just embraced and would die in battle.)
On the auspicious note of this conversion began the Battle of Yarmuk.
[ Taken from Khalid bin Al Waleed: The Sword of Allah by A.I Akram ]
Hoor Al-’Ayn
May 19
Hoor Al-'Ayn, Jihad, Love, Marriage, Women No Comments
The Question
Objection to the fact that a man will have hoor al-’ayn who will share her husband with her
What happens in paradise, with a couple who have been married ? I have heard that the wife will be with her husband, but that the husband will in addition to her, have 70 women (hoor al-’ayn) at his service.
This to me does not seem like a fair concept for the women, to share their husbands in this way.
The Answer
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly :
The believer must submit to the rulings and decrees of Allaah (SWT). Allaah (SWT) says (interpretation of the meaning) :
The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allaah (His Words, Al-Qur’an) and His Messenger, to judge between them, is that they say: ‘We hear and we obey’. And such are the successful (who will live forever in Paradise)
[ al-Noor 24 : 51 ]
If the believer is confused about anything in the rulings of Allaah (SWT), and he does not know what it means or what the reason behind it is, then he must say as those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say:
We believe in it; the whole of it (clear and unclear Verses) are from our Lord
[ al-‘Imraan 3 : 7 ]
It is not permissible for the believer to say that one of the rulings of Allaah (SWT) is not fair; exalted be Allaah (SWT) far above that. Allaah (SWT) says (interpretation of the meaning) :
And your Lord is not at all unjust to (His) slaves
There is no rule that is better than the rule of Allaah (SWT). Allaah (SWT) says (interpretation of the meaning) :
Is not Allaah the Best of judges?
[ at-Teen 95 : 8 ]
Do they then seek the judgement of (the days of) Ignorance ? And who is better in judgement than Allaah for a people who have firm Faith ?
Secondly :
In this question there are two mistakes and a misunderstanding. The first mistake is where the questioner says that in Paradise a man will have seventy hoor al-’ayn. What is proven in the saheeh Sunnah is that the martyr (shaheed) will have seventy-two hoor al-’ayn. The least of the people of Paradise will have two wives, and some will have more than that.
Narrated by al-Miqdaam ibnu Ma’di Yakrib (RA) :
Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said,
The martyr has six blessings with Allaah :
- he will be forgiven from the first drop of blood shed;
- he will be shown his place in Paradise;
- he will be protected from the torment of the grave; he will be safe from the greater terror;
- a crown of dignity will be placed on his head, one ruby of which is better than this world and everything in it;
- he will be married to seventy-two wives from al-hoor al-‘ayn;
- and he will intercede for seventy of his relatives.
[ at-Tirmidhi, 1663; Ibn Maajah, 2799; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh at-Tirmidhi ]
And more than that has been narrated. Abu Na’eem narrated in Sifat al-Jannah from Abu Hurayrah (RA) :
Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said :
A man will go to one hundred virgins in one day – i.e., in Paradise.
[ Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 367 ]
It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (RA) :
Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said :
The lowest of the people of Paradise in status will be a man whose face Allaah will turn away from the Fire towards Paradise, and make a shady tree appear before him. Then he will enter his house and his two wives from among al-hoor al-‘ayn will enter after him. They will say: ‘Praise be to Allah Who has created you for us and us for you.’ And he will say: ‘No one has been given the like of that which I have been given.’
[ Narrated by Muslim, 188 ]
Al-Haafiz said : The apparent meaning is that the least that will be given to each of them will be two wives.
Thirdly :
The second mistake is the questioner’s saying that hoor al-‘ayn will serve the man. This is not correct, rather the ones who will serve the people of Paradise will be boys of everlasting youth. Allaah (SWT) says (interpretation of the meaning) :
And round about them will (serve) boys of everlasting youth. If you see them, you would think them scattered pearls
Hoor al-‘ayn will be wives of the men in Paradise, in addition to their wives from among the people of this world. Allaah (SWT) says (interpretation of the meaning) :
So (it will be). And We shall marry them to Hoor (fair females) with wide lovely eyes
They will recline (with ease) on thrones arranged in ranks. And We shall marry them to Hoor (fair females) with wide lovely eyes
[ at-Thoor 52 : 20 ]
Fourthly :
The misunderstanding is when the questioner says: “This to me does not seem like a fair concept for the women, to share their husbands in this way.”
Fairness or justice is to be found in the rulings of sharee’ah, not in what a person thinks who does not know sharee’ah and its rulings, let alone the reasons behind them.
The sister who is asking this question thinks that the jealousy in her heart, and what it leads to of depression and sorrow will remain with her in Paradise, but this is not correct, and this is why there is this misunderstanding in her question.
Allaah (SWT) says (interpretation of the meaning) :
And We shall remove from their breasts any (mutual) hatred or sense of injury (which they had, if at all, in the life of this world); rivers flowing under them, and they will say: ‘All the praises and thanks be to Allaah, Who has guided us to this, and never could we have found guidance, were it not that Allaah had guided us! Indeed, the Messengers of our Lord did come with the truth.’ And it will be cried out to them: ‘This is the Paradise which you have inherited for what you used to do’
[ al-A’raaf 7 : 43 ]
There is nothing but joy and happiness in Paradise; there is no room for hatred and rancour in the hearts of the people of Paradise. Hoor al-‘ayn are something which Allaah (SWT) has created to honour the people of Paradise and to increase their delight. Moreover a man will be given the strength of one hundred men for intercourse, so the large number will not have any effect on a woman, and her feelings towards her co-wives and her husband’s concubines will not be like her feelings in this world.
It was narrated that Zayd ibnu Arqam (RA) :
Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said to me :
A man in Paradise will be given the strength of one hundred men in eating, drinking, desire and intercourse.
A Jewish man said :
The one who eats and drinks will need to relieve himself.
Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said to him :
The way in which one of them will relieve himself will be by means of sweat which will come out through his pores, and thus the food in his stomach will be digested.
Do they then seek the judgement of (the days of) Ignorance ? And who is better in judgement than Allaah for a people who have firm Faith ?
[ Narrated by Ahmad, 18827; classed as saheeh by Ibn Hibbaan, 16/443; and by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1627 ]
It was narrated from Anas (RA) :
Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said :
The believer in Paradise will be given such-and-such strength for intercourse.
It was said :
O Allah’s Messenger, will he really be able to do that ?
Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said :
He will be given the strength of a hundred (men).
[ Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2536; classed as saheeh by Ibn Hibbaan, 16/413; and by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 8106 ]
And Allaah knows best.
6 Blessings of A Shuhada
May 18
Hoor Al-'Ayn, Jannah (Paradise), Jihad, Sahih At-Tirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Maajah No Comments
Narrated by al-Miqdaam ibnu Ma’di Yakrib (RA) :
Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said,
The martyr has six blessings with Allaah (SWT) :
- he will be forgiven from the first drop of blood shed;
- he will be shown his place in Paradise;
- he will be protected from the torment of the grave; he will be safe from the greater terror;
- a crown of dignity will be placed on his head, one ruby of which is better than this world and everything in it;
- he will be married to seventy-two wives from al-hoor al-‘ayn;
- and he will intercede for seventy of his relatives.
[ at-Tirmidhi, 1663; Ibn Maajah, 2799; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh at-Tirmidhi ]
Dajjal Cannot Enter 2 Cities
May 13
Al-Qur'an, Dajjal, Madinah, Makkah, Sahih Al-Bukhari No Comments
Once, a friend went home and explained to his 6 year old son about Dajjal to make him realize the tough times that his generation might face.
Father (in a fearful voice) :
Dajjal can go anywhere but he cannot enter Makkah and Madinah.
Son (speaking confidently) :
Of course Dajjal wouldn’t be able to enter Makkah and Madinah.
Father (curious) :
How come ?!?
Son (calm) :
Because when he would reach the check post, the police would check his residence permit, on which his name “Dajjal” would be written. So, they would immediately arrest him.
These are related hadith from Sahih Al-Bukhari
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
The Prophet (SAW) said, “There will be no town which Ad-Dajjal will not enter except Mekkah and Madinah, and there will be no entrance (road) (of both Mekkah and Madinah) but the angels will be standing in rows guarding it against him, and then Madinah will shake with its inhabitants thrice (i.e. three earth-quakes will take place) and Allah (SWT) will expel all the non-believers and the hypocrites from it.”
Volume 3, Book 30, Number 105
Narrated Abu Bakr (RA) :
The Prophet (SAW) said, “The terror caused by Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal will not enter Madinah and at that time Madinah will have seven gates and there will be two angels at each gate guarding them.”
Volume 3, Book 30, Number 103
Narrated Ibn Abbas (RA) :
The Prophet (SAW) said, “On the night of my Ascent to the Heaven, I saw Musa (Moses) who was a tall brown curly-haired man as if he was one of the men of Shan’awa tribe, and I saw ‘Isa (Jesus), a man of medium height and moderate complexion inclined to the red and white colors and of lank hair. I also saw Malik, the gate-keeper of the (Hell) Fire and Ad-Dajjal amongst the signs which Allah showed me.” (The Prophet (SAW) then recited the Holy Verse) : “So be not you in doubt of meeting him’ when you met Moses during the night of Mi’raj over the heavens” (32.23)
Volume 4, Book 54, Number 462
Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA):
The Prophet (SAW) said, “Neither Messiah (Ad-Dajjal) nor plague will enter Medina.”
Volume 7, Book 71, Number 627
Muslim Pride
Apr 26
Islam, Jihad, Muhammad SAW No Comments
[Q] Is there anything wrong with a person feeling proud of his religion or feeling proud of a person who does something good? Because we know that pride in the heart is something bad.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly :
With regard to feeling proud of one’s religion and of belonging to it, this is something that is prescribed in Islam and is a righteous deed.
A story from one of the battles illustrates this point : Abu Sufyaan, the leader of Quraysh, expressed pride in his religion and the religion of his people – as he had not yet entered Islam. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) answered his boast with an expression of the Muslim’s pride in his religion and his affirmation of the Oneness of the Lord of the Worlds.
Al-Bukhaari narrated in his Saheeh (3039) from the hadeeth of al-Bara’ ibn ‘Aazib (may Allah be pleased with him) that after the battle Abu Sufyaan ibn Harb started composing rajz verse and saying :
Rise in honour, Hubal; rise in honour Hubal.
The Prophet blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said :
Why don’t you answer him ?
They said :
O Messenger of Allah, what should we say ?
He said :
Say: Allah is Most High and Most Glorious.
Abu Sufyaan said :
We have al-‘Uzza and you have no ‘Uzza.
The Prophet blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said :
Why don’’t you answer him ?
They said :
O Messenger of Allah, what should we say ?
He said :
Say : Allah is our Supporter and you have no supporter !
Allah, may He be exalted, has taught His slaves that true pride and perfect honour can only be achieved by obeying Allah. Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning) :
Whosoever desires honour, power and glory then to Allaah belong all honour, power and glory [and one can get honour, power and glory only by obeying and worshipping Allaah (Alone)]. To Him ascend (all) the goodly words, and the righteous deeds exalt it (i.e. the goodly words are not accepted by Allaah unless and until they are followed by good deeds), but those who plot evils, theirs will be severe torment. And the plotting of such will perish
[Faatir 35:10].
i.e., and whoever would like to be honoured in this world and the Hereafter, let him adhere to obedience to Allah, then he will attain what he wants, because Allah is the Sovereign of this world and the Hereafter, and all honour, power and glory belong to Him, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
Those who take disbelievers for Awliyaa’ (protectors or helpers or friends) instead of believers, do they seek honour, power and glory with them? Verily, then to Allaah belongs all honour, power and glory.
[an-Nisa’ 4:139]
And let not their speech grieve you (O Muhammad r), for all power and honour belong to Allaah.
[Yoonus 10:65]
But honour, power and glory belong to Allaah, and to His Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), and to the believers, but the hypocrites know not.
[al-Munaafiqoon 63:8].
Mujaahid said :
“Whosoever desires honour, power and glory” [al-Faatir 35:10] by worshipping idols, “then to Allaah belong all honour, power and glory.
Qataadah said :
“Whosoever desires honour, power and glory then to Allaah belong all honour, power and glory” i.e., let him seek honour, power and glory by obeying Allah, may He be glorified and exalted.
Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 6/536
Secondly :
With regard to a person feeling proud of himself, if it is because he is religiously committed, righteous and pious, then it is good, but if it is because of anything else, such as lineage, ancestry, wealth, position or status among people, then this is an act of Jaahiliyyah and is not permissible.
Muslim (1550) narrated from Abu Maalik al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said :
There are four matters of Jaahiliyyah in my ummah that they will not give up: pride in one’s forefathers, slandering lineages, seeking rain by the stars and wailing (for the dead).
Muslim (5109) also narrated from ‘Iyaad ibn Himaar al-Mujaasha‘i (may Allah be pleased with that) that the Messenger of Allah (sa) said one day in his khutbah :
Allah has revealed to me that you should be humble so that no one will boast to anyone else and no one will transgress against anyone else.
Al-Majd Ibn Tamiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said :
Allah has forbidden on the lips of His Prophet two types of mistreatment of people: pride and transgression against them and scorn.
Fayd al-Qadeer, 2/217
The guideline with regard to this issue is: whatever is a source of pride and honour because of religion is part of the religion and is praiseworthy; any source of pride other than that is blameworthy.
But feeling proud because of doing acts of obedience and worship means feeling happy that one has been enabled to do that and feeling proud of belonging to people who do that, and praising Allah for saving him from shirk and its people, and from sin and its path.
As for looking down on the slaves of Allah and feeling that one is above them because of acts of obedience that one has done, this is the worst type of pride and arrogance, and the one who is like this is on the brink of disaster and there is a danger that his deeds will be thrown back at him.
And Allah knows best.
Source : Islam Q&A
The Pious Judge
Apr 22
The Khalif Nasir of Andalus (Spain) had spent an astronomical amount of wealth in decorating the Madinatul Zahra. He had plastered the roof and walls with gold and silver. Its roof was a mixture of bright yellow and snow white, overwhelming to the extent that its rays would dazzle the sight. One day he was seated amongst his courtiers and attendants, admiring the splendour of his efforts, and proudly asked them,
Have you ever heard of any king before me who made a structure as magnificent as this ?
They replied,
No, by Allah, Amir al-Muminin. You are unique in this regard. No king in our knowledge could ever manage to construct the likes of what we see here.
Just as he was taking pleasure and delight in their reply, Judge Mundhir ibn Sa’id walked in with his head down. After he had taken his seat the Khalif asked the Judge what he thought about the unprecedented splendour of the palace.
Tears began falling from the Judge’s eyes onto his beard and he replied,
O Amir al-Muminin, Allah has granted you many bounties out of His grace and has greatly elevated your status amongst nations. I did not expect you to allow the accursed Shaitaan to prompt and deceive you in this manner. You have allowed Shaitaan to degrade you to the status of the disbelievers.
The Khalif was quite taken aback with this and retorted,
Be careful what you say ! How have I reached the level of the disbelievers ? Speak the truth no matter how bitter it may be to others.
The Judge answered,
Yes. Does Allah Ta’ala not say :
“And were it not that all mankind would have become of one community (of disbelievers), We would have provided for those who disbelieve in the Most Beneficent (Allah), silver roofs for their houses, and stairs (of silver) whereby they ascend, and for their houses, doors (of silver), and thrones (of silver) on which they could recline, and adornments of gold. Yet all this (i.e. the roofs, doors, stairs, thrones and so on) would have been nothing but an enjoyment of this world. And the Hereafter with your Lord is only for the God-fearing.” (Surah Zukhruf, verse 33-35)
The Khalif was speechless and lowered his head. Fearful of Allah’s punishment, tears began to fall from his eyes. After a while he turned to Judge Mundhir and said,
O Judge, may Allah reward you extremely well for your concern. May He bring more men like you. You have spoken the truth.
He rose from the gathering repenting to Allah SWT. He commanded that the gold and silver be removed from the roof of the palace and that it should be replastered with sand.
[Nafhut Teeb]
via matwork.co.za
