29
Nov 2019
Apathy is not an option We made what is upon the earth an ornament for it, to test them as to which of them is best in conduct. (18:7) All aspects of life are a test Allah Almighty said He made everything on earth an adornment as a test to see who is best in their conduct. There are many verses in the Quran talking about the fact we will be tested in our actions. All of creation in its varied forms are part of the test we face. Whether we......
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25
Nov 2019
Definition of yateem The Prophet (peace be on him) was born in Makkah. His father passed away when he was young and after a few years his mother passed away. He was therefore an orphan at a young age. In Arabic, someone is considered an orphan if his father has passed away, not his mother. If the Prophet had lost his mother first, he wouldn’t have been considered an orphan as long his father was still alive. This is the meaning in Arabic of the word yateem (orphan), though it may be......
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24
Nov 2019
In one of the most seminal hadith, Abu Hurairah narrated: One day while the Prophet (ﷺ) was sitting in the company of some people, (The angel) Jibril came and asked, ‘What is imaan (faith)?’ Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) replied, ‘Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, (the) meeting with Him, His Apostles, and to believe in Resurrection.’ Then he further asked, ‘What is Islam?’ Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) replied, ‘To worship Allah Alone and none else, to offer prayers perfectly to pay the compulsory charity (Zakat) and to observe fasts during the month......
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24
Nov 2019
The common factor when we gather to celebrate the life of the Prophet (peace be on him) is our love for him. Whatever we do, intention is crucial, inamal amalu bin niyyat: Actions are by intention. (Bukhari) Our intention is to be closer to Allah Almighty by knowing the Prophet and sending our salam and salah to him. Sending salawat on the Prophet (peace be on him) Sending salawat on the Prophet (peace be on him) is a way of showing our gratitude for our blessings and for the blessing that he......
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24
Nov 2019
The Character of The Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon Him) Praying for the best character One of the opening supplications in Salah before reciting Al-Fatiha is: اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي لأَحْسَنِ الأَعْمَالِ وَأَحْسَنِ الأَخْلاَقِ لاَ يَهْدِي لأَحْسَنِهَا إِلاَّ أَنْتَ وَقِنِي سَيِّئَ الأَعْمَالِ وَسَيِّئَ الأَخْلاَقِ لاَ يَقِي سَيِّئَهَا إِلاَّ أَنْتَ ” . رواه النَّسائي O Allah, guide me to the best of deeds and the best of character, for none can guide to the best of them but You. And protect me from bad deeds and bad character, for none can protect against them......
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21
Nov 2019
The one who loves Allah Almighty, he competes in doing whatever that brings him closer (qurba) to Allah Almighty. What is qurbah The word qurb meaning bringing near appears in multiples forms 96 times in the Quran, including muqarrabūn (مُقَرَّبُون) and qareeb, someone who is close physically close or related. Qurbah in the Qur’an Qurbah has been used twice in the Qur’an in (قُرْبَةٌ) singular form and (قُرُبَاتٍ) plural form in the same verse. وَمِنَ ٱلۡأَعۡرَابِ مَن يُؤۡمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِ وَيَتَّخِذُ مَا يُنفِقُ قُرُبَـاتٍ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَصَلَوَٲتِ ٱلرَّسُولِۚ أَلَآ إِنَّهاَ قُرۡبَةٌ۬ لَّهُمۡۚ......
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18
Nov 2019
The main principles in Islam: Certainty (part 3) What is yaqeen What is yaqeen? Yaqeen is being certain that Allah Almighty is in control of everything. Certainty is one of the main principles of Islam. It is knowing that nothing is beyond Allah’s control, whatsoever, even if we don’t understand the underlying wisdom is the bedrock of Islam. Nothing should shake your certainty of Him. The moment you feel your yaqeen has been shaken, then there’s something wrong in you – something wrong between you and Allah, something wrong in your action,......
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15
Nov 2019
Throughout my studies of Shariah, over 30 years now, we keep referring to the general principles of Islam. The general principles are an expression that is referred to widely by my shuyukh teachers, their teachers and their shuyukh and throughout our literature. One day, in the Monday circle I deliver, I was asked by some of my students to tell them about these main principals. Where are they mentioned? Is there any book which covers this topic? And I realized that though these are mainstream principles in Islam which everyone should know,......
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15
Nov 2019
عَنْ عُمَرَ –رضي الله عنه– قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ –صلى الله عليه وسلم-: “مَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَتَوَضَّأُ فَيُسْبِغُ الْوُضُوءَ, ثُمَّ يَقُولُ: أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ, وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ, إِلَّا فُتِحَتْ لَهُ أَبْوَابُ الجَنَّةِ الثَّمَانِيَةُ، يَدْخُلُ مِنَ أَيِّهَا شَاءَ“. أَخْرَجَهُ مُسْلِمٌ، وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ, وَزَادَ: “اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ التَّوَّابِينَ, وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ“.مسلم والترمذي. ‘If anyone performs wudu perfectly then says ‘ash-hadu an la illaha illallahu wahdahu la shareeka lahu wa ash-hadu anna muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluhu allahummaj’alni minat- tawabeen waj’alni minal-mutatahireen’ the 8 gates of jannah will......
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15
Nov 2019
عن أَنَسٍ –رضي الله عنه– قَالَ: “كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ –صلى الله عليه وسلم– يَتَوَضَّأُ بِالْمُدِّ, وَيَغْتَسِلُ بِالصَّاعِ، إِلَى خَمْسَةِ أَمْدَادٍ” مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ. The Prophet (peace be on him) would do wudu with under a litre of water and ghusl with about 3-4 litres. However on most days, our consumption of water in a single shower would fill a lake. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ used to perform wudu with a mudd, and perform ghusl with a Saa’ . (Bukhari and Muslim). A mudd and......
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09
Nov 2019
How do you define what is Sunnah ‘It is Sunnah to eat meat once in 3 months.’ ‘It is Sunnah to wipe over (khuf) leather socks’ Are these true? What is ‘Sunnah’? The word Sunnah is an Arabic word meaning ‘tradition’ or ‘way.’ For Muslims, Sunnah means, ‘the way of the Prophet Mohammad (peace be on him)’. The Sunnah is made from the words and actions of the Prophet (peace be on him), as well as his tacit approval of what was said or done in his presence. Defining the Sunnah is......
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08
Nov 2019
قال الله تعالى: (فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لَانفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَ ۖ فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْرِ ۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ). Allah the Almighty said: It is by of grace from God that you were gentle with them. Had you been harsh, hard-hearted, they would have dispersed from around you. So pardon them, and ask forgiveness for them, and consult them in the conduct of affairs. And when you make a decision, put your trust......
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08
Nov 2019
Allah Almighty said: وَرَفَعْنَا لَكَ ذِكْرَكَ And raised high your status (94:4) How then is it possible for us to elevate the Prophet (peace be on him) beyond this? Anything beyond this we need to be careful and double check it’s source and meaning. Sadly many well known hadith are in circulation which have no basis but were invented out of love for him peace be upon him. The Sunnah is protected The difference between Islam and other religions is its robust system of authenticating knowledge, which led to the unprecedented evolution......
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04
Nov 2019
When is the birthday of the Prophet (peace be on him) The Prophet (peace be on him) was born on Monday 12th Rabi’ al Awwal, (22nd April 571 AD). There are messages floating around in WhatsApp orbit stating that 28th Safar was the date of the death of the Prophet (peace be on him), however he passed away on 12th Rabi’ al Awwal. This date is agreed upon by all top critics of hadith. If you receive any WhatsApp messages to the contrary, ignore them. They are not authentic. Though we remember......
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02
Nov 2019
Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace be on him) said: The most beloved people to Allah are those who are most beneficial to people. (Tabarani) Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘Indeed Allah will question every leader about his subjects: did he fulfil the amanah or waste it’. (Nasa’i) There are many hadith which talk about the responsibility of leaders and the qualities of leadership. If you read through the Quran and search for these......
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