Quran MP3 - القرآن الكريم - koran karem

Quran MP3 - القرآن الكريم - koran karem

mr. hfz. Kenan Musić - gdje ti je srce? ( halka hadisa 10.11.'11. )

Poučna priča o stidu

Poučna priča o stidu

Poslušaj ovu lijepu poučnu priču. Seid b. El-Musejjeb imao je kćerku koju je halifa Abdul-Melik b. Mervan zaprosio za svoga sina El-Velida, ali je Seid nije udao za njega bojeći se za nju iskušenja u vidu kraljevskog života. Budući Seidov zet Ebu Veda`a prenosi priču svoje ženidbe na ovaj način: “Bio sam od onih koji su prisustovali kružiocima Seida b. El-Musejjeba gurajući se sa ostalima da što više od njega naučim. Jednom sam prilikom izostao nekoliko dana, pa me upitao kada sam mu došao:

“Gdje si bio?” – “Umrla mi je žena pa sam se oko toga zabavio.” – odgovorio sam. Rekao je: “Zašto nas nisi obavjestio da i mi dođemo na njenu dženazu?”, te me upita: “Jesi li se oženio?”, odgovorio sam: “Allah ti se smilovao, a tko će me oženiti kada nemam osim dva – tri dirhema?” Konstatovo je: “Ja ću te oženiti.”, upitao sam: “Zar ćeš tako postupiti?” On reče: “Svakako.” Potom se zahvalio Allahu, donio salavat i selam na Poslanika, sallallahu ‘alejhi ve sellem, i oženio me sa dva ili tri dirhema. Ustao sam ne znajući šta da radim od radosti. Zaputio sam se kući razmišljajući od koga da uzajmim novac.

Klanjao sam akšam i vratio se svojoj kući. Postio sam. Sjeo sam da se iftarim sa hljebom i uljem. Začuo sam da neko kuca na vrata, ustao sam i upitao: “Ko je?” – “Seid!” Čuo sam glas sa druge strane vrata. Tako mi Allaha, kroz misli su mi prošli svi koje sam poznavao sa tim imenom, osim Seida b. El-Musejjeba, jer se on već četrdeset godina nije viđao osim na putu od kuće do džamije i nazad! Kada sam otvorio vrata iznenadio sam se, pred sobom sam ugledao imama Seida b. El-Musejjeba.

Pomislio sam da se predomislio po pitanju svoje kćerke, rekao sam mu: “Ebu Muhamede, zašto nisi nekoga poslao po mene da ja dođem ako sam ti trebao? „Ne“ – odgovorio je – preče je bilo da ja danas dođem tebi, bio si neoženjen, pa si se oženio, zato mi nije bilo drago da zanoćiš sam, a ovo je tvoja žena. Stajala je iza njega, zatim ju je uzeo za ruku i ugurao kroz vrata te ih zatvorio. Žena je pala od stida…. Potom sam proveo sa njom tri dana, bila je od najučenijih osoba o Allahovoj knjizi, najboljih poznavaoca Sunneta Poslanika, sallallahu ‘alejhi ve sellem, i najbolje je poznavala muževo pravo! (Knjiga Iz života Tabi`ina)

Imam Šafija i starac

Imam Šafija i starac

Rebi’ ibn Sulejman, prijatelj imama Šafije, pripovjeda:
Jednog dana smo bili sa Šafijom kada nam dođe neki starac. Na sebi je imao odjeću od vune a u ruci mu je bio štap. Šafija ustade, popravi svoju odjeću i pozdravi ga. On sjede i Šafija poče gledati u njega sa divljenjem. Starac reče:

Starac: Mogu li pitati?

Šafija: Pitaj.

Starac: Šta je hudždže (dokaz) u Allahovoj vjeri?

Šafija: Allahova Knjiga.

Starac: Šta još?

Šafija: Sunnet Allahova Poslanika, sallallahu alejhi ve sellem.

Starac: Šta još?

Šafija: Konsenzus (idžma) ummeta.

Starac: Šta ti je dokaz za konsenzus ummeta?

Šafija se zamisli za trenutak kada starac reče:

Starac: Ostaviću te tri dana. Ako dođeš sa dokazom iz Allahove knjige, onda je dobro, a ako ne, pokaj se Allahu Uzvišenom.

Lice imama Šafije promjeni boju, ustade i ode. Nije izlazio sve do trećeg dana, kada se pojavi između podneva i ikindije. Njegovo lice, ruke i noge su bile otečene i bio je bolestan. Sjede, ali ne prođe mnogo vremena kada opet dođe onaj starac. Pozdravi ga, sjede i reče:

Starac: Imaš li ono što sam tražio?

Šafija: Da.

أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم

Utječem se Allahu od prokletog šejtana.

Uzvišeni Allah kaže:

وَمَنْ يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيرًا

Onoga ko se suprotstavi Poslaniku, a poznat mu je Pravi put, i koji pođe putem koji nije put vjernīkā, pustićemo da čini šta hoće, i bacićemo ga u Džehennem – a užasno je on boravište! (An-Nisa’, 115)

…A On (Allah azze we džell) ga neće baciti u džehennem zbog suprotstavljanja vjernicima u nečemu a da to nije nešto što je obavezno”.

Starac: Istinu si rekao.

Zatim ustade i ode.

Šafija potom reče onima koji su bili okupljeni oko njega: “U tri dana sam triput proučio Kur’an, sve dok nisam došao na ovaj ajet“.

(Sijar E’lam al-Nubala)

Dešava se da Kur’an ponekad otkriva svoje dragulje i odgovore u različitim vremenima i situacijama. Čak i ako smo neki ajet pročitali mnogo puta prije, odjednom ćemo ga drugačije shvatiti u nekom drugom vremenu.

Kao što kažu, ‘لا تنقضي عجائبه ‘ – njegova čuda nikad ne prestaju.

Molim Allaha da nam podari ispravno razumjevanje Njegove Knjige.

Savjet Omera ibn Hattaba, radijallahu anhu

Savjet Omera ibn Hattaba, radijallahu anhu

Prenosi Se’id ibn al-Musejjib od al-Hattaba da je rekao:

Nema ničeg umjesnijeg od toga, da kada neko biva nepokoran Allahu u ophođenju s tobom, ti ne učiniš ništa, osim da budeš pokoran Allahu u ophođenju s njim. Sve stvari koje dođu do tebe od tvoga brata protumači na najljepši način, sve dok do tebe ne dođe nešto jasno koje ga nadvlada. Ne misli loše o izjavi koja dođe od drugog muslimana sve dok joj možeš naći lijepo tumačenje. Ko god sebe izloži sumnji, neka ne krivi one koji o njemu misle loše, a ko god krije svoje tajne, snaga izbora će biti u njegovim rukama.

Čvrsto se drži iskrenih prijatelja, budi blizak s njima, jer su oni slast u blagostanju a pomoć u teškim vremenima. Drži se istine čak i ako te ona ubije, i ne upuštaj se u stvari koje te se ne tiču! Ne pitaj o stvarima koje se nisu desile, jer je uistinu ono što se već dešava dovoljno da te preokupira od toga. Ne traži pomoć, niti prepuštaj svoje stvari onome ko ne želi da uspiješ i ne druži se sa griješnikom, da ne bi naučio iz njegovih grijeha i zla. Kloni se svojih neprijatelja i budi oprezan čak i od tvog prijatelja, osim od iskrenog i povjerljivog prijatelja, a niko nije povjerljiv osim onaj koji se boji Allaha.

Budi skroman na mezarima, ponizi se u pokornosti i budi nepokolebljiv prema nepokornosti. Kada se radi o tvojim pitanjima, traži savjet samo od onoga koji se istinski boji Allaha, jer doista  Uzvišeni Allah kaže:

إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّـهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ

“A Allaha se boje od Njegovih robova učeni.” (Sura Fatir 28.)

(Rawdat al-’Uqala’)

www.imamsedin.wordpress.com

Advice to my daughter

Advice to my daughter

My daughter, I am a man who is no longer young and I left my dreams and illusions behind. I traveled a lot, met people and experienced life. Therefore, please listen to this sound, frank word of advice that is the extract of my long age and experiences. I think you have never heard such things from anyone else.

We wrote and called for rectifying morals, erasing corruption and suppressing desires until our pens and tongues became exhausted. However, we achieved nothing and did not manage to remove any evil. Rather, evil is increasing and corruption is spreading. Wanton display and nudity are increasing at an alarming rate and spreading from one place to another.  This evil practice─ I think─ has spread throughout all Muslim countries, even in Ash-Shaam where loose, full-covering clothes used to prevail and honor and modesty were strictly preserved. Nowadays, ladies go out unveiled, with their arms and necks exposed.

We did not succeed and I think we will not. Do you know why? Because, until now, we did not reach the right door to reform. My daughter, you have the key of that door. If you take the initiative to open this door, conditions will be reformed.

It is true that man takes the first step towards the way of sin. A woman never takes this first step. If a woman does not accept the man, he will not proceed. If it not were for your leniency, he would not dare to continue. You opened the door for him and he entered. You welcomed the thief, and when he robbed you, you screamed for help.

If you knew that all men are wolves and that you are a ewe, you would flee from them as the ewe flees from the wolf. If you remembered that they are thieves, you would be as cautious with them as a stingy person is from a thief. A wolf wants the meat of the ewe, but a man wants something dearer to you than the this; and more evil to you than the death of the ewe. It is your chastity, with which you are honored, with which you boast and with which you live. The life of a girl with ravished chastity is a hundred times worse than the death of the sheep. By Allaah, this is true!

Once a young man sees a girl, he lets his imagination undress her and then he visualizes her naked. By Allaah, this is really correct! I swear to you again. Do not believe some men who claim that they solely observe the woman's morals and ethics and that they speak with her and treat her kindly like a friend. By Allaah, they are liars. If you hear what young men say when they are alone, you will find terrifying things. The smiles, amiable words and services of the young man to you are just preparation for getting what he wants, or at least he does so to give himself the impression that he is preparing to achieve his purpose.

What comes afterwards? Please, tell me! The young man and you share pleasure for an hour, and then he forgets, but you still suffer the bad consequences forever. He will easily leave and go to another foolish girl to rob her chastity while you bear the burdens of pregnancy, anxiety in yourself and shame on your forehead. The unjust society forgives him, and says, "A young man who deviated but repented." However, the society never forgives you, and you live in permanent shame.

If you, when you meet such a man, oppose him, turn your face away from him, give him your back, and even beat him with your shoes on his head if he insists and impudently tries to touch you ─ if you do so, people crossing the street will help you against him, and no immoral man will ever dare to do so with a girl. If he is good, he will come to you with a sincere intention to have lawful relations with you through marriage.

 Any girl, regardless of her social status, wealth, fame or esteem, finds her greatest hope and happiness only in marriage when she serves as a righteous wife, good mother and housewife. This is the case with all women whether they are queens, princesses or Hollywood stars whose fame and glamour deceive many women. I know two great women writers in Egypt and Ash-Shaam who enjoyed both wealth and literary esteem, but they did not marry. They went crazy! Please do not embarrass me by asking about their names, for they are known.

Marriage is the peak of a woman's wishes, even if she became a member of parliament or if she assumed power. No one marries an immoral irresponsible woman. Even the person who seduces the noble girl promising to marry her later, does not keep his promise if the girl fell into the evil act. He would rather leave her and seek another chaste girl to marry, for he does not tolerate that his wife and the mother of his children be a fornicator.

If an immoral man does not find a foolish, immoral girl who loses her dignity and becomes a toy in his hands by accepting to share his unlawful pleasures, he seeks marriage according to the traditions of Islam. You are the reason behind the recession of marriage. Were there no immoral girls, marriage would have flourished and immorality would not have become widespread.

Why do not the noble girls work to fight such immorality? You are more entitled to that and more capable of that than we, for you know how to speak to girls and how to make them understand. Only you, chaste, moral and religious girls, can remove corruption. In every home, there are girls who have reached the age of marriage, but could not marry because young men found prostitutes as alternatives to wives.

Form groups from the female intellectuals, teachers and university students to help your deviant sisters return to the straight path. Inspire them with fear of Allaah the Almighty; if they do not fear Him, warn them against disease. If they do not fear disease speak to them about reality. Say to them: you are beautiful girls, and therefore, young men approach you, but will you always be beautiful? Does anything on earth remain forever so that a girl will maintain her youth and beauty forever? What will the situation be like when you grow into old ladies with bent backs and wrinkled faces? Who will take care of you then? Who will ask about you? Do you know who cares for, honors and reveres an old lady? It is her sons, daughters and grandchildren. The old lady, then, becomes the queen in her kingdom, whereas the "other woman" lives in a manner that you know better. Are these pleasures equal to that pain? Should this end be sold for that beginning?

You do not need anyone to tell you how to speak to your deviant sisters. Try every possible means to guide them. If you cannot do this, try to keep the virtuous girls intact and not fall into imitating the bad ones. You are not required to return the Muslim woman to her original state in one leap, because a one-step breakthrough is usually impossible to achieve, so I advise you to go back to goodness step by step as you proceeded to evil step by step. You renounced virtue step by step, thinned out the veil of disobedience and endeavored for a long time working for that shift. Good men could not feel that, the lewd magazines urged it, and the immoral persons were pleased with it until we reached a state that is not approved by Islam or Christianity. Even the Magians whom we read about in history books did not reach that state. This state is not approved even by animals. When two roosters seek a chicken, they fight because of jealousy for her and in defense of her. On beaches, however, there are Muslim men who feel no jealousy about anyone looking at their Muslim wives. It is not just a matter of seeing their faces, hands and necks, but this includes everything except their private parts, the things which are considered obscene to show! In the so-called (progressive clubs and evening parties), some Muslim men present their Muslim women to non-Mahrams. The non-Mahram man would dance with the lady until his chest, belly and mouth touch hers, with his arms wrapped around her body. At universities, Muslim girls with parts of their bodies unveiled, sit with Muslim young men. Muslim fathers and mothers do not even denounce that. There are many similar matters that cannot be reformed overnight. We must, however, return to the truth from the way through which we went to evil, even if we find the way to be long. A person who does not take the long way when there is no other way will never reach his destination.

We should start by fighting intermixing between the two sexes, for the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Any man who stays in seclusion with a non-Mahram woman will definitely have Satan as their third." [Ahmad, At-Tirmithi, and Al-Haakim]

It was also narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Let none of you stay with a woman in seclusion except in the presence of a Mahram." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

If the face is uncovered in the same way as Allaah the Almighty created it (without cosmetics), this would be acceptable even though covering it is better and preferable. Intermixing is something else. Uncovering a woman's face does not mean that she mixes with men other than her Mahrams, receives her husband's friend in the house, greets him whenever she meets him in the tram or on the street, shakes hands with her male university colleague, speaks with him, walks with him in the street or prepares herself for the exam with him.

She must not forget that Allaah the Almighty Created her as a female and Created him as male, and that He Put in each of them an inclination toward the other. Consequently, neither she nor he nor all people can change the creation of Allaah the Almighty. They cannot make the two sexes "equal" or remove the natural inclination to the opposite sex. Callers of equality and intermixing between the two sexes under the pretext of civilization and progress are liars for two reasons. They are liars because their goal behind this is to take physical pleasure, satisfy their inclinations, let their eyes see girls pleasurably and obtain further pleasures.  They dared not express this frankly. Therefore, they dressed their meaningless thoughts such bombastic, fruitless words as progressiveness, civilization and university life. This, though bombastic, is nonsense.

They follow the guidance and orders of Europe and do not recognize the truth unless it is endorsed by it. According to them, truth is not the antonym of falsehood. Rather, it is what comes from Paris, London, Berlin and New York, even if it is dancing, lewdness, intermixing between the two sexes in the university, unveiling [uncovering] the A‘wrah in athletics and nakedness on the beaches. Falsehood, according to them, is whatever comes from here – from Al-Azhar, the Umayyad Mosque, the eastern schools, and the Islamic Masjids, even if it is virtue, guidance, chastity, or purity of the body and the heart.

Since this is their case, they are liars for there are many families in Europe and America─ as we read and hear about from those who went there─ who do not approve of intermixing between the two sexes. In Paris, please notice (Paris); there are fathers and mothers who do not permit their mature daughters to walk with young men or go with them to the cinema. They do not even let them watch films unless they are certain they are free from lewdness and immorality. Unfortunately, lewdness and immorality enter all these absurdities which are called cinematic art by some trivial, impudent firms which are as ignorant of art as of religion. They claim that intermixing between the opposite sexes mitigates the strong desires, refines morals and purifies the soul from sexual madness.

Let the answer be given by those who experienced intermixing in schools. Russia which does not refer to any religion or heed the words of a Shaykh or a priest– has not it rejected intermixing after it experienced corruption. Also America – have not you read that there is an increase in the rate of pregnant students and that this is one of the problems facing America? Who likes that the same problem would occur in the universities of Egypt, Ash-Shaam or other Muslim countries?

My words are not directed to the young men, and I do not hope that they will listen. I know that they may oppose me and depreciate my words, for I deprive them of the pleasures which they do not believe they have really got.

My words are directed to you, my believing, chaste and religious girls. Only you are the victims. Do not let yourselves be a sacrifice in the slaughterhouse of the devil. Do not listen to those who embellish the life of intermixing in the name of freedom, civilization, progressiveness and university life. Most of these malicious advocates have neither wives nor children. They only seek to fulfill temporary pleasures which they might get from you. I am a father of four girls; so when I defend you, I am also defending my daughters. I seek for you the good which I seek for them.

None of the nonsense which those people call for restores the lost chastity of a girl, her ravished honor or her lost dignity. If the girl falls, none of them will help her. You find all of them jostling for her beauty as long as she has some of it. If she lost her beauty, they leave her like the dogs when they leave a carrion that no longer has a slice of meat.

This is my advice to you, my daughter, and this is the truth. Do not listen to those malicious people, and know that the key of reform is in your hands; not in the hands of men. If you have the intention, you will reform yourself and consequently reform the whole Ummah. Peace and mercy of Allaah be upon you.

Ibn `Atta’ Words of Wisdom (7) Seizing One's Time

Ibn `Atta’ Words of Wisdom (7)

Seizing One's Time 

 

In his well-known book, Al-Hikam (Words of Wisdom), sheikh Ahmad Ibn `Ataa'illah As-Sakandari says:

"Postponing good deeds until you have free time is an indication of an immature soul."

In other words, there is nothing called "I do not have time." The deeds we are talking about such as prayers, remembering God, reflection, all need time. However, sometimes one postpones them and says "I will do them tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, or next Ramadan." Ibn `Ata'illah describes this attitude as an indication of an immature soul, i.e. this person is demonstrating a folly of the self because you can do everything you want to do if you have a strong will and time will help you a lot.
However, it is a matter of priorities. You leave home in the morning and you have a specific number of hours to do a certain number of tasks. You will do what is important first, then what is less important. Then you decide to postpone the remaining tasks until tomorrow saying that (God does not burden any human being with more than he is well able to bear.) (Al-Baqarah 2:286)
If you have ten minutes, for example, and you have many things to do including the prayer, then you have to perform the prayer first. Sometimes worldly affairs take priority today, tomorrow, next week, next month, and religious affairs are always postponed. Even the prescribed acts of worship are not done by some people because they claim that they do not have time.
This procrastination has been mentioned in a saying linked to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that says: "Most of the pain of the people of Hell will be because of procrastination." Therefore, procrastination is unacceptable. Every Muslim should seize time and make the best use of it.

There is enough time to do everything. God will bless your time and work if you seize time and organize it.

There is enough time to do everything. God will bless your time and work if you seize time and organize it. Seizing the time is not only important for managing worldly affairs, it is also important for managing religious affairs. If you are in the habit of reciting a portion of the Qur'an or some dhikr (remembrance of God) everyday at a specific time and you have to go out for work, seize the time while riding the bus or the train and recite the Qur'an and mention God. I know of a number of brothers and sisters who memorized the Qur'an while riding a bus or a train on their way to work or back home.
People in developed countries usually read a book or a story while riding a bus or a train. While revising this paragraph I was in the train in London. The train is crowded but it is very quiet. Everybody around me is either reading or writing even if they are standing in the train. If people are making the best use of their time for worldly affairs, the Muslim should be very keen to seize his or her time for religious affairs.
One has to set his priorities and start with what is more important. God's right should be carried out in the best way. According to Shari`ah rules, people's rights and trusts are more emphasized than God's abstract right. This does not mean that we care about people's rights and neglect God's right. We should seize the time and strike a balance between the two rights. Procrastination is an indication of an immature soul which has been deceived by Satan. Almight Allah says,

([As for those who will not believe in the life to come, they go on lying to themselves] until, when death approaches any of them, he prays: “O my Sustainer! Let me return, let me return [to life], so that I might act righteously in whatever I have failed [aforetime]!’’ Nay.) (Al-Mu’minun 23:99-100)

We ask Allah the Almighty to help us make the best use of our time in what pleases Him.

Softening the Heart

Softening the Heart

An-Nu`man ibn Bashir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said,

"Beware! There is a piece of flesh in the body, if it becomes good (i.e., reformed), the whole body becomes good, but if it gets spoilt, the whole body gets spoilt, and that is the heart." (Al-Bukhari)

In this long and very famous hadith, the Prophet, referring to what is halal and what is haram, is drawing Muslims' attention to the high importance of the heart.

After explaining that the halal is clear and the haram is clear, the Prophet declares that there are obscure areas between them not known to most people. However, what protects a person from the haram and ensures remaining in the halal is knowledge; but beyond knowledge, there is the state of the heart. If the heart is good, then it will be able to make use of the knowledge available and avoid what is prohibited. If the heart is bad, then the knowledge is of no benefit and the person will indulge in what is prohibited.

On his last pilgrimage, the Prophet declared that there is no favor or special position of an Arab over a non-Arab nor of a White over a Black except for taqwa (i.e., piety) and good deeds.

In these and similar statements, we find stress being placed on the heart as the part of the body that Allah has favored over all other parts. It is the place of iman (i.e., faith). Had there been another part in the body nearer to Allah, taqwa would have been placed there, because iman and taqwa are the most valuable things that a human being can ever have.

There is nothing more valuable than iman, as it is the ultimate determinant of those who have belief in Allah and the lucid distinction between believers and disbelievers. That is why the Prophet said to `Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him),

"If a single man is led to the right path (of Islam) by Allah through you, that will be better for you than everything in the world." (Al-Bukhari)

The heart, moreover, is the place by which the correctness of deeds is judged. The Prophet showed this in the hadith that was narrated by `Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), saying: "I heard Allah's Messenger say,

"Deeds (i.e., their correctness and reward) depend upon intentions, and every person gets but what he has intended." (Al-Bukhari)

So, our deeds — what we do externally — are judged ultimately by the states of our hearts.

Moreover, the Prophet declared in an authentic hadith that the first three sorts of people who would be cast into the Hellfire are those who were involved in what everybody considers great acts of righteousness. They are

1. A scholar who taught knowledge

2. A wealthy person who gave from his or her wealth in charity

3. A martyr who gave his or her life fighting in the path of Allah

The Prophet had a very soft heart. He treated all people gently. His wives said that they could not recall even a single incident when he hit or scolded them harshly. He was known for his gentleness, and Allah's Book confirms that this was an essential quality of his personality.

That is because they did not do these righteous deeds for the sake of Allah or for His reward, but rather to be venerated and praised by people.

This shows clearly that even the highest of deeds can be of no avail if the hearts are corrupt.

So, great attention should be given to the heart. A Muslim has to spend much of his or her time observing the state of his or her heart, making sure to have a niyyah hasanah (i.e., good intention) before every single deed.

So, believers should never be more concerned about any faculty than about the heart. They have to make sure that this faculty is functioning as Allah wishes it to function.

The Prophet's Heart

In his supplications, the Prophet would often say,

"I seek refuge in You, O Allah, from a heart that does not fear (You)." (Ahmed)

The Prophet had a very soft heart. He treated all people gently. His wives said that they could not recall even a single incident when he hit or scolded them harshly. He was known for his gentleness, and Allah's Book confirms that this was an essential quality of his personality. Almighty Allah says,

(Thus it is due to mercy from Allah that you deal with them gently, and had you been rough, hard-hearted, they would certainly have dispersed from around you.) (Aal `Imran 3:159)

This was the typical quality of all Prophets and the characteristic that all those who seek to guide others to Allah must have. As it was essential for Prophets, it is essential for all Muslims, too.

It is essential for those who seek knowledge.

It is essential for teachers with regard to students.

It is essential for Muslim preachers.

It is essential for parents with regard to their children.

It is essential for Muslims with regard to their oppressed brothers and sisters worldwide.

Prime Example

With regard to children, it was narrated that Al-Aqra` Ibn Habis saw the Prophet kissing Al-Hasan and Al-Husain, his grandchildren. Al-Aqra` said, "I have ten children, but I have never kissed any of them." The Prophet said to him,

"Whosoever is not merciful will not receive mercy."

So, it is essential that parents show mercy to their children. And if we look at a home where a father is kind and merciful with his children, we will find a home that is full of happiness.

Can We Live Without Mercy?

The reality for those seeking knowledge — as it is compulsory for Muslims to seek knowledge of religion — is that if there is not, along with that knowledge, a soft heart, the Muslim cannot taste the beauty of that knowledge.

Marks of knowledge appear on the Muslim's face, hands, and tongue and in his humility to Allah. The opposite is true; nothing corrupts knowledge and da`wa (i.e., preaching Islamic teachings) more than harshness of the heart. Where hearts have become hardened, knowledge is of no benefit to the individual, nor can that individual benefit others with it.

Softness of the heart is a fundamental characteristic of true Muslims. If it becomes absent, then a person's life is filled with distress and discomfort. This is the promise of Allah. Those who lack soft hearts will lead woeful lives, as Allah, the Exalted, says in the Qur'an:

(Nay, woe to those whose hearts are hard against the remembrance of Allah; those are in clear error.) (Az-Zumar 39:22)

They are in obvious misguidance.

Woe to those whose hearts hear the Qur'an and they do not become fearful and humbled as a result of it.

Woe to those who are reminded of the words of Allah, but their eyes do not weep in fear of Him.

Woe to those who are reminded of the warnings of Allah and they do not humble themselves to His Words.

It is a curse to have a hardened heart, and it is a blessing to have a soft heart. Those with hardened hearts suffer a lot, even though they may have all of the trappings of this life.

What seems to be an enjoyable life is empty — it is filled with loneliness. They cannot find peace of mind and heart because their hearts are hardened to Allah, to belief in Allah, to submission to Allah. Allah, the Almighty, says,

(And whoever turns away from My reminder, his shall be a straitened life, and We will raise him on the day of resurrection, blind.) (Ta-Ha 20:124)

Is there anything that is more beneficial in this life than a softened heart? Will all Muslims strive to achieve it because everything else would be meaningless and useless without softened hearts?

When the Poor Compete with the Rich

When the Poor Compete with the Rich 

By Ibn Daqiq Al-`Id

 

 

On the authority of Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) that some people from amongst the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah be pleased with them all) said to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), ''O Messenger of Allah, the affluent have made off with the rewards; they pray as we pray, they fast as we fast, and they give [much] in charity by virtue of their wealth.” Whereupon, he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,

 

“Has not Allah made things for you to give in charity? Truly every tasbehah [saying: subhanallah] is a charity, and every takbirah [saying: Allahu akbar] is a charity, and every tahmidah [saying: Alhamdulillah] is a charity, and every tahlilah [saying: la ilaha illa Allah] is a charity. And commanding the good is a charity, and forbidding an evil is a charity, and in the bud` [lawful sexual act] of each one of you there is a charity.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, when one of us fulfils his carnal desire will he have some reward for that?!” He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Do you not see that if he were to act upon it [his desire] in an unlawful manner then he would be deserving of punishment? Likewise, if he were to act upon it in a lawful manner then he will be deserving of a reward.'' (Muslim)

Explanation of the Hadith

Ordering the good and forbidding the evil is a fard kifayah (communal obligation), and at times it may become obligatory upon every individual.

In Arabic the word used for affluent is 'duthur' which implies a large amount of wealth. This hadith is an explanation of the virtue of reciting tasbih and all of the other forms of dhikr (remembrance) of Allah, and of ordering the good and forbidding the evil, and of ensuring that one has the intention of pleasing Allah even in the mubah (permissible) actions, for by having such pure intentions they turn into actions of obedience, deserving of reward.

Also, this hadith is a proof that it is permissible to ask a scholar about the evidence for some of the things in the scholar's fatwa that are not apparent to the questioner, as long as it is clear that the scholar does not dislike this and the questioning is done in a respectful fashion.

The Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) statement "And commanding the good is a charity, and forbidding an evil is a charity" is an indication that every single type of ordering the good or forbidding the evil carries the ruling of being a charity. Indeed, it is greater than the tasbih and the other forms of dhikr mentioned after it, because ordering the good and forbidding the evil is a fard kifayah (communal obligation), and at times it may become obligatory upon every individual, and this is opposite to the case of the adhkar (plural of dhikr) mentioned previously, which are only nawafil (voluntary deeds). The reward of performing the obligatory deeds is much greater than that of the voluntary deeds, as the statement of Allah in a qudsi hadith indicates: "And My servant does not come closer to Me by anything more beloved to Me than the deeds that I have obligated upon him." (Al-Bukhari) Some scholars have said that the reward for the obligatory deeds is greater than that for the voluntary deeds by seventy levels, as is indicated by some hadiths.

In the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) statement "and in the bud` (sexual act) of each one of you there is a charity" the word "bud`" is a general term that encompasses the meaning of intercourse and also the private parts themselves, and both of them correctly convey the intended meaning here. It has already been mentioned that the permissible actions, i.e., not obligatory nor recommended - become like acts of obedience, which are rewarded for, through the presence of the correct intention. So the act of intercourse also becomes an act of worship, if by it a person intends to fulfill the rights of his wife, and to live with her in a good way, or to seek a pious child, or as a protection for himself or his wife from illegal desires, or other than these from the praiseworthy purposes.

Everyone can perform acts of charity no matter what his station in life.

The poor’s statement "O Messenger of Allah, when one of us fulfils his carnal desire will he have some reward for that ?" and the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) reply "Do you not see that if he were to act upon it [his desire] in an unlawful manner then he would be deserving of punishment ?" until the end of the hadith, it indicates the permissibility of qiyas (using analogy to derive rulings) and none are opposed to this except the zahiriyyah (Literalists, referring to the school of Dawud az-Zahiri).

Summary:

• We should have concern for attaining the reward of Allah.
• Comparing oneself to another to see how many good deeds we are performing is permissible and recommended.
• Looking towards one who is rich so that we may do good things like him is desirable.
• Being rich is not a bad thing in and of itself.
• Everyone can perform acts of charity no matter what his station in life.
• Remembering Allah with words is a charity.
• A conjugal relation with ones’ wife is a charity.
• One is rewarded for abstaining from the unlawful, and instead adopting a way which is lawful.

The Major sins 3-Sorcery

3) Sorcery

Sorcery is a major sin because the sorcerer must necessarily disbelieve and the accursed Devil has no other motive for teaching person witchcraft than that he might thereby ascribe associates to Allah.

Allah, the Almighty, says, {Solomon did not disbelieve but Satan disbelieved, teaching men magic, and such things as came down at Babylon to the angels Harut and Marut. But neither of these taught anyone (such things) without saying, 'We are only for trial,' so do not blaspheme.'

They learned from them the means to sow discord between man and wife. But they could not harm anyone except by Allah's permission. And they learned what harmed them, not what profited them. And they knew that the buyers of (magic) would have no share in the happiness of the Hereafter.} (AI- Baqarah: 102)

Thus, you might find some people who are astray delving in learning sorcery and thinking that it is just unlawful. Actually, they do not consider what they do as disbelief, but it is! They embark on learning all kinds of sorcery: Pure sorcery, increasing or decreasing the love between a man and a woman, making a man important and the like.

All of these practices are done by means of some unknown words, most of which lead to unbelief. The penalty for a sorcerer is to be killed. This is because he is an unbeliever. The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Avoid the seven heinous sins.” And he mentioned sorcery.

"The penalty for a sorcerer is the sword.” Reported by Imam Tirmithi. Bijalah Ibn Abah related, 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) came to us one year before his death and said, "Kill every sorcerer (male or female).” Reported by Abu Dawud.

Wahb Ibn Munabbih said, "I read in a book: 'Allah the Almighty says, 'There is no god but Me. He is not of Me who practices sorcery, or asks someone to practice with him. The one who foretells or the foretold, the one who seeks an omen or for whom an omen is sought.”

`Ali Ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said, A fortune teller is a sorcerer, a sorcerer is a disbeliever."

Abu Musa AI-Ashari, may Allah be pleased with him, related that the Prophet (pbuh) said, "The drunkard, the one who severs the ties of kinship, and whoever believes in sorcery will not enter Paradise.”

Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) related that the Prophet (pbuh) said, "Incantations, amulets and spells are Shirk (polytheism).”  These are treated as Shirk because the ignorant believes that these things can affect what has been predetermined by Allah. However, AIKhattabi said, "Incantations or healing words are permitted if they consist of the Qur'an or the Most Beautiful Names of Allah." The Prophet (pbuh) used to recite (incantation) AI-Hasan and AlHusain by saying, "I seek refuge for you in Allah's Perfect Words from every Devil, beast or envious.”

Hadith of the day

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “There is no disease that Allah has created, except that He also has created its treatment.”  582, Medicine‘ of Sahih Bukhari.

To Follow the Sunnah

To Follow the Sunnah

By Ibn Daqiq Al-`Id

On the authority of Abu Najih Al-`Irbad ibn Sariyah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) gave us a sermon by which our hearts were filled with fear and tears came to our eyes. So we said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! It is as though this is a farewell sermon, so counsel us’. He said,

‘I counsel you to have taqwa (fear) of Allah, and to listen and obey [your leader], even if a slave were to become your Amir (leader). Verily he among you who lives long will see great controversy, so you must keep to my Sunnah and to the Sunnah of the Khulafa' Ar-Rashiden (the Rightly Guided Caliphs), those who guide to the right way. Cling to it stubbornly [literally: with your molar teeth]. Beware of newly invented matters [in the religion], for verily every bid`ah (innovation) is misguidance.’” (Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi)

Explanation of Hadith

In some versions of this hadith, it says: "Verily this is a farewell sermon, so what do you charge/entrust us with?" to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied, "Verily I have left you upon a White Plain [i.e., Clear Guidance], its Night is like its Day, and none deviates from it except that he is destroyed".

The Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) statement "listen and obey [your leader]" refers the ruler, even if he may be a slave. Some of the scholars have said that a slave cannot be the ruler, and that this has been mentioned by way of an example or supposition. This is similar to his (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) statement "whosoever builds for Allah a masjid like a bird's nest, Allah builds for him a house in Paradise". And a bird's nest cannot be a masjid, but this is given simply by way of an example.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) ordered us with clinging to the Sunnah of the Khulafa' Ar-Rashiden.

And his (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) statement "verily he among you who lives long will see great controversy" is from amongst his (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)) miracles, as he informed his Companions of that which was to occur after him of differences and the spreading of evil. And he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was aware of this in complete detail, but he did not reveal all these details to every individual. Rather he used to warn about it in a general fashion, but also explained it in detail to some individuals such as Hudhayfah and Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with both of them), and this is evidence to show their great position and status.

As for his (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) statement "so you must keep to my Sunnah" then the word 'sunnah' means the straight, correct and sound way which proceeds upon his normal/customary way, and that is the Clear Path. And "the Sunnah of the Khulafa' Ar-Rashiden (the Rightly Guided Caliphs), those who guide to the right way" are those in whom the Guidance was contained, and they are the Four by consensus of the Muslims - Abu Bakr, `Umar, `Uthman, and `Ali (may Allah be pleased with them all).

Therefore, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) ordered us with clinging to the Sunnah of the Khulafa' Ar-Rashiden for two reasons: The First is in the form of taqlid (following without evidence) for the one who is incapable of making his own discernment/judgment and the Second is in the form of deciding that which is more correct when faced with a difference of opinion amongst the Sahabah (Companions) themselves.

In all cases of difference, it is obligatory to stick to the Sunnah, the way of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

As for his (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) statement "beware of newly invented matters [in the religion]", it should be know that such newly invented matters are of two types: 1) a matter which has no basis in the Shari`ah, and this is batil [rejected] and blameworthy, and 2) a matter which has a parallel or similarity in the Shari`ah, then this is not blameworthy. This is because the words 'newly invented matter' and bid`ah are not deemed blameworthy purely on the basis of the words themselves, but due to their indicating opposition to the Sunnah and calling towards misguidance, and so they are not considered to be unrestrictedly wrong. For example, `Umar reinstated the Tarawih Prayer and said, "What an excellent bid`ah is this." It is to be noted here that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had led the Tarawih Prayer in congregation for a few days, but then discontinued it due to his fear that the people would think it obligatory. This condition remained throughout the reign of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), until `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) restarted what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had already laid a precedent for. Thus, he used the word bid`ah in a purely linguistic sense, and not in the Shari`ah sense that is used for blameworthy things.

Summary:

• One should speak in a way, when it is needed, that reaches the very hearts of the people.
• The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) cried when listening to the sermon, and hence it is not wrong to cry during sermons.
• The advice given in this hadith is parting advice from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
• The first thing advised is to fear Allah (i.e., to have taqwa).
• One should obey the Amir ul-Mu'minin as long he fulfills its conditions.
• In all cases of difference, it is obligatory to stick to the Sunnah, the way of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and to the way of the First Four Rightly Guided Caliphs.
• One must be extremely careful about new things in the Deen (religion).
• One must ensure that everything that one does as part of his religion indeed has proof for it in the Qur'an and Sunnah.