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Friday, December 10, 2010

Tafakkur (contemplation) ch 9

Fikr are of two categories:
1) Arifeen
2) Am for the awwam for example Allah is One, whoever created the mountain can't be two.

The most noble of contemplation is reflecting of the creation that Allah created

Aayat means signs, usually verses from Al Qur'an (Said Mursi said the whole creation (world) is the explanation of Qur'an and Al Qur'an is the explanation of the world
Amongst the ayatuLlah are men who just being with them reminds you of Allah

Istihya' means holding back from doing something because you are scared of upsetting somebody

Dunya are things in it that so quickly dissapears

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Habib Hussayn on Zulhijjah

In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful

We Extol You O Lord, give Thanks to You and Praise You for bestowing
Your favours upon us, for Your unceasing successive blessings that
keep on multiplying. You do not cut off Your bounties from Your
bondsman, rather you increase them, despite Your bondsman’s
preoccupation from You (being occupied) with his family, his food and
drink. (And) peace and blessings of Allah be upon our beloved, our
ideal, Muhammad- peace and blessings be on him and upon his family who
lead us to him, related him to us and ignited in us the longing of
following the path (that leads )to him and reproached us from falling
into pursuits that will alienate us from him.

My beloved ones, we have entered these ten blessed days which are an
opportunity to make good transactions with Allah, an opportunity to
renew our repentance, a chance to be penitent to Allah, an opportunity
to rectify our conduct with Allah, a chance to get close to Allah, a
chance to perceive (the sweetness) of the love of Allah, to experience
the bliss of nearness to Allah, an opportunity to attain the pleasure
of Allah.

My brothers, (these) days will pass us while amongst us there will
remain those who have neither tasted the sweetness of Tasbih [saying
Subhanallah], nor Tahmeed [Alhamdulillah] nor Takbeer [Allahu Akbar]
nor Istighfar nor of sending salutations upon the beloved- peace be on
him!

These days are a grant and gift to us- a bounty. May Allah open [for
us] the doors of repentance, [attaining His] pleasure, love and
bounties in these days. Whosever desires to heed the call and responds
to it then indeed Allah accepts him, guides him, receives him and
assists him.

Have you responded to the call of your Lord?
Do you not long for Allah?
Do you wish to retreat to Allah?
Then welcome these [blessed] days!

The beloved, peace be on him, exalted these ten days saying, “There
are no days greater in the sight of Allah”

So, for example charity is more beloved to Allah in these ten days
than any other day, to invoke the name of God [perform dhikr] is
permissible at all times but to perform dhikr in these ten days is
greater in the sight of Allah.

Why are (righteous) deeds greater in the sight of Allah (in these ten
days)?

The scholars have narrated that in these ten days Allah manifests His
manifestations to the creation.

This means that in these ten days, especially on the day of ‘Arafah,
Allah likes to bestow His bounties upon His slave such as His
forgiveness, liberating him from the fire of hell, (bestowing) His
love, pleasure and His splendour and Allah likes to see the effect of
these favours on His slave.

This is a privilege not found in other days – except those stated by
Allah and His Messenger.
These days are distinguished, by the Grace of Allah.

What is required of us to do (in these ten days)?

Two things are required of us:
1. Increasing our righteous deeds
2. Perfecting our good deeds.

Today, in this age, we have two groups of people:
1- Those that possess the ability to increase their virtuous deeds and
vary them such as fasting, charity and prayer.
2- And there are those who cannot- they are busy with social and
material issues. They cannot fast or stand (for worship)
What is required of you is that when you perform (your deeds) perfect
them.

The people of knowledge have said that Allah will accept His slave’s
most excellently performed action on the Day of Judgement.

Such are they from whom We shall accept the best of their deeds and
pass by their ill deeds: (They shall be) among the Companions of the
Garden: a promise! of truth, which was made to them (in this life)
46:16.
The point is not the magnitude of the action but what is due to Allah!
It could be (as small as) removing an obstacle from the road.

Therefore I say to him who says he is busy: One action- fasting,
standing [in worship], invoking the Name of God [dhikr] or charity –
perform it with perseverance, be steadfast on it even though it may be
little. Assign a time for it, try and perform it with excellence, with
presence of heart. Don’t occupy yourself with anything else (at that
time), keep away from all distractions- switch off your mobile phone
for the time you have assigned to it.

I am in seclusion with Allah
I want to do dhikr of Allah.

Perform ablution [wudu’], pray two raka’ats, bow down in prostration
and perceive the bliss of prostration – especially in these days. Whom
are you prostrating to? He is closer to you than your own self!
Experience the delight of nearness to Allah and drown yourself in His
love..

What is required of us in these ten day?

I will divide the requirements into three categories - Actions:
1) Between you and Allah
2) Between you and the people.
3) Between you and your self [nafs]

The aim is not these ten nights only- and that we become negligent (in
the remaining days). Rather these days (can be taken) as an example of
a fuel station where we have to stop and fill our hearts with the fuel
of iman so that it lasts us the remainder of our life time.
What Action Should I Start With?

We find in the Quran and in the speeches of the Prophet - peace be on
him, that there is a specific deed which is required of you to
increase its quantity [in these days].

It is easy…you can perform it at any time, any hour, any moment, any
state- while standing, lying or sitting. Despite its ease in
performance and its lightness upon the tongue it weighs heavy upon the
scales.

I suppose you know it??
Yes….it is remembrance [dhikr] of Allah
It is one of the most mentioned deeds.
Allah, the Exalted says: “And remember God during certain days
numbered.” [2:203]
And take a look at the words of the beloved-peace be upon him, “So,
during this time, recite a great deal of tahlil , takbir and tahmeed.”

Try and occupy your time in these ten days with only these actions.
You are not required to perform ablution nor be in a particular state.
(You can perform them) at any time!
That is why the people who will regret most on the day of judgment
will be those who did not increase in dhikr [remembrance] of Allah
since it is an action easy to perform.
So you increase in doing tahmeed [saying Alhamdulillah] and in
performing dhikr for if the former is not accepted then the latter
will be. Acceptance is mighty, don’t consider it insignificant.
Wherever you may be, engage your tongue in the dhikr of Allah until it
becomes moist with it.

Oh how insufficient we are in performing the dhikr of Allah! Despite
the fact that each one of us is immersed in the blessings of Allah, we
do not perform dhikr except for a little!!

Let’s be honest…most of us don’t do dhikr of Allah except a little.
And if we do perform dhikr with our tongues, our heart and spirit is
not present. Where are they? It is not supposed to be a mere utterance
of the tongue. Allah says, “Know, therefore, that there is no god but
Allah” [47:19]
He did not say “Say!” What is needed is to say and know. Therefore let
us return to these days of Allah, and there will be great rewards for
you from Allah - for if you remember Him, He remembers you!!

2- Qiyaam –ul -Layl [Standing the night in worship]:

The one who gets up in the night [for worship] has an inner longing.
He is obstructed from his sleep, his rest; he detaches himself from
all the permissible pleasures even though he is inclined to sleep,
despite his body needing that rest! His nafs [evil-commanding self]
tells him, “Go back to sleep! You have work tomorrow.” His desire
tells him not to tire himself but he repels all these thoughts.

He rubs off the sleep from his eyes, cleans his mouth using the
siwaak, remembers Allah [(by reciting the dua of waking up) –All
praise is to Allah who granted us life after he caused us to die, and
to Him is the return], then looks to the sky and recites the verse,
“Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the
alternation of night and day, - there are indeed Signs for men of
understanding.” [3:190]

He then performs ablution and washes away the impurity of his sins
with the water of ablution. He stands infront of Allah in his prayer
niche with complete servitude, faces the direction of the qiblah,
scented, in a state of purity, and he exalts his Lord. He enters
another sphere and By God, it has its pleasure!

Have you experienced the joy of bowing between the hands of Allah?
Have your eyes flowed with tears as you felt an inclination towards
Allah?
Tell me how many tears have you shed ? How old are you?
The days are folding in and the [life of this] world will go by - and
what is it but an hour after another
Have your eyes not wept, yearning for your Lord?
When a human being is away from his family or children, their
remembrance causes his eyes to water and he misses them.

What about your Lord and your Prophet-peace be on him?
Where are those days when you long for them?

3- Reciting the Quran: With reflection and presence of heart. Each and
every verse of the Quran encloses a hidden meaning, enlightenment,
sciences, healing [power], mercy and guidance.

2)The conduct between you and the people.

Exchange visits, reunite ties of kinship, be dutiful to parents,
forgiveness, give up your rights that are due from the people. Those
who do not visit you, go to them, humble yourself for Allah. If
someone does not talk to you, communicate with him for the sake of
Allah. Cut off the barrier.
Why?
For the sunnah of the Prophet- peace be upon him.
Let’s hasten to improve our ties with people. It may be dfficult but
we can endeavour.

3) The transaction between you and your nafs

Wait here…evaluate your nafs and address it: “O evil commanding self,
what path are you heading to? Woe unto you! There have come before you
many proofs - of deaths at old age, problems, earthquakes, floods,
sudden death- points you should beware of. Is Allah pleased with you?
Then fear Allah with regard to your eyes and your heart….. when will
you give up your offences and sins?

Pause here….Do you not know that Allah is aware of what is in your
heart and your innermost?

Do you not know that nothing is hidden from Allah?

Soar high with your heart….make your heart know its Lord.
Similarly, address your nafs.
Who from among the creation do you love most?
You will say the Messenger of Allah – peace be upon him.
What are the signs for this?
How many a night has sleep escaped your eyes because of your
remembrance of the Messenger of Allah – peace be on him?
Tell me honestly- how many times have you laid your head on the pillow
while contemplating upon the Messenger of Allah?
And you became sleepless…has this happened to you? Not even once? What
is your age? Thirty? Forty? What path are you treading?

Start from now.

For Allah is watching you and He is protecting you and will help you.
I ask Allah to make us firm, to make these days bountiful. And submit
to Allah and rejoice and have a good opinion of Allah.

And know that Allah is much more Generous than what you perceive
Don’t let Shaytaan delude you by telling you that you are distant.
That you are wretched and there is no good in you.
Nay! Tell him that Allah will make me righteous.
Allah is my Lord and my Prophet is Muhammad – peace be on him.
He will graciously bestow upon me, grant me favours and accept me.
For He has accepted those before me with greater sins than mine.
I ask Allah to grant us the taste of His love and make us among His
special and beloved ones.

By Habib Hussein Al-Saggaf
To watch the lecture: http://hemmah.net/Lecture.aspx?SectionID=5&RefID=658&do=Stream

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Sunday, October 31, 2010

Tafseer Al-Fatiha

TAFSEER CLASS (Al-Fatiha) BY USTAZA EIMAN ON 31/10/10

Ustaza Eiman (May Allah bless her, increase her and make us benefit from her) begins teaching by asking us to think why we are studying tafseer.
1) From the hadith '“The best of you are the ones who learn the Qur’an and teach it to others” [Al-Bukhari]
2) We learn the name of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala from the Qur'an, to be closer to Him. ~ sometime one Name is use, sometimes two Names (Ghafoorur Raheem), sometimes three Names are used (Allahi Rahmanir Raheem), in other surah Al-Hasyr 59:24
هُوَ اللَّهُ الْخَالِقُ الْبَارِئُ الْمُصَوِّرُ لَهُ الْأَسْمَاء الْحُسْنَى يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
six names in one ayaat, in 59:23 nine Names of Allah in an Ayaat:

هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْمَلِكُ الْقُدُّوسُ السَّلَامُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْمُهَيْمِنُ الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ الْمُتَكَبِّرُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
The Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “ Whoever when he wakes in the morning says ‘I seek refuge with Allah against Satan’ and recites three verses from the last of surah al Hashr then 70,000 angels will pray for him until the evening and should he die that day he would have died a martyr.” [ Ibn Ahmad, Darimi, Tirmidhi 5/182] (end of surah Al-Hasyr verse no 22, 23 and 24)
3) Allah is teaching us
4) loving Him; al-Qur`an 5:54, “yuhibbuhum wayuhibboonahu”. Allahuma inni uhibbuka (O Allah, indeed I love you). The more we understand the Qur'an, the more we love Him.
5) to know why Allah has created me : وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
51:56 I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me.
6) to know the sunnah: قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَاللّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
3:31 Say: "if ye do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
7) to know halal and haram for eg
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَوْفُواْ بِالْعُقُودِ أُحِلَّتْ لَكُم بَهِيمَةُ الأَنْعَامِ إِلاَّ مَا يُتْلَى عَلَيْكُمْ غَيْرَ مُحِلِّي الصَّيْدِ وَأَنتُمْ حُرُمٌ إِنَّ اللّهَ يَحْكُمُ مَا يُرِيدُ O ye who believe! fulfill (all) obligations. Lawful unto you (for food) are all four-footed animals, with the exceptions named: But animals of the chase are forbidden while ye are in the sacred precincts or in pilgrim garb: for Allah doth command according to His will and plan. 5:1
8) To study the type of people who will be in the Garden and the Fire eg: وَعِبَادُ الرَّحْمَنِ الَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ هَوْنًا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجَاهِلُونَ قَالُوا سَلَامًا 25:63 And the servants of ((Allah)) Most Gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, "Peace!";

9) At-ta'aroof (to get to know) of anbiya' (the prophets) and their stories, for example sayidina Moosa 'Alayhi salaam was mentioned more than 73 times in the Qur'an. The more we read, it will increase yaqeen (certainty) and eeman in our heart.
10) help us to be patient
- in 'ibadah: when we read on how Rasool sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam worship and how sayidina Dawood 'alayhi salaam fast.
- in ma'siya: the story of Sayidina Yusuf 'alayhi salaam when he said Ma'azaAllah 12:23, we learned that when we are tempted with ma'siyat (wrong-doings) we can say ma'azaAllah.
11) teaches us 'amal ma'roof wa nahi 'anil munkar (enjoin good and forbid evil) for eg
وَأَقِيمُواْ الصَّلاَةَ وَآتُواْ الزَّكَاةَ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُواْ لأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ اللّهِ إِنَّ اللّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ 2:110 (And be steadfast in prayer and regular in charity: And whatever good ye send forth for your souls before you, ye shall find it with Allah. for Allah sees Well all that ye do.)
and example of forbidding evil: وَلاَ تَقْرَبُواْ الزِّنَى إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَسَاء سَبِيلاً 17:32 Nor come nigh to adultery: for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils).

12) we get to know the ghaybiyaat (the unseen) for example the Day of Judgement, Jannah and Naar
13)
14) teaches us adab, (7:199 Hold to forgiveness; command what is right; But turn away from the ignorant.)
15) It answers all our questions, the more we read, the more we know.
16) It explains everything: past, present and future.(tibyanan li kulli shayy) 16:89 ...and We have sent down to thee the Book explaining all things, a Guide, a Mercy, and Glad Tidings to Muslims

Sayidina Abdullah ibnu Mas'ood radhyiaAllahu 'anhu knew the Qur'an more than he knows his own children. Rasul sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam used to ask him to read the Qur'an and upon hearing it, his tears will come streaming down on his cheek (sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam) and wetting his beards.
According to sayidina Ibnu Abbas RadhiyaAllahu 'anh: it contains all knowledge including future knowledge (fi amrihi wa khalqihi).

How did the scholars give tafseer?
- with another ayat for example:
فَتَلَقَّى آدَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ Al-Baqara 2:37 (Then learnt Adam from his Lord words of inspiration, and his Lord Turned towards him; for He is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.) What is the word (kalimaat) used? It was explained in verse 7:23
قَالاَ رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِين
The two replied: "O our Sustainer! We have sinned against ourselves -and unless Thou grant us forgiveness and bestow Thy mercy upon us, we shall most certainly be lost!
Tafseer of qur'an with qur'an is the highest level of tafseer
- The meaning can be zahir and batin. The unseen meanings is for the people of knowledge for exmple on the revealation of Surah An-nasr. sayidina Ibnu Abbas radhiyaAllahu 'anh explained that Rasul sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam is going to pass away soon. This is tafsir batin.
What is the goal? Ibnu ajiba produced six great big books - tarbiyatul yaqeen (to teach yaqin) , adda'na lil maqamil ihsan

The surahs can be either makki (revealed in Makkah) or Madani (in Madinah). In the beginning, the surahs were revealed to teach tauhid.


Other names for Al-Fatiha:
-Al-wafiya : summarised in al-fatiha (wafy means enough)
- Al-Kafiyah : enough for any solat
- Al-syafiya

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Mercy

Reminder by Ustaza Mona

From the Companion Abdallah bin Amr bin al-As, who heard the Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) say, "The merciful, the Most Merciful God has mercy upon them. Be merciful on the earth and He that is in the Heavens will be merciful with you (al-rahimun yarhamuhum al-Rahman, arhamu mam fi'l-ard yarhamkum man fi'l-sama)." (Sunan al-Tirmidhi)

Attribute of Allah:
1) Beautific: Generous, Bountiful, Gentle (This is the sifat that Allah loves His servant to have)
2) Majestic: Almighty, Glorious, Greatest (For Allah alone and we have to show the opposite character for example if we show the opposite character and be humble, Allah will enriches us)
3) Kamaliyah: completing sifaat

Hearing the hadith is like syifa' (healing).

Saturday, October 02, 2010

Branch 26: Jihad

77 branches of faith (02.10.10)Imam Al-Bayhaqi
Branch 26: Jihad


- Habib Ahmad Masyhur bin Taha Al-Haddad (RahmatuLlahi 'alayh) said that the highest amal ma'ruf is jihad. The process of jihad is calling people to Deen.
Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam was reported as saying: "Allah Who is Blessed and Exalted, has prescribed benevolence (ihsan) towards everything {and has ordained that everything be done in a good way}; so, when you must kill a living being, do it in the best of manner and, when you slaughter an animal, you should {use the best method and} sharpen your knife so as to cause the animal as little pain as possible." (Narrated by Shaddad bin Aus. Muslim)

- In the battle of Badar, the angels fought alongside the Muslim army. Sayidina Jibra'eel alayhi salam was present at that time as well. He is the amanatul 'wahy (the one who's entrusted with revealation) and he is so strong that in the time of Prophet Lut Alayhi Sallam, he just used one wing and turn the whole community upside down. It is also reported that wind that echoes from his shout can destroy a whole population, However, during the Battle of Badar, he was taught in detail on how to destroy the enemy (as revealed in the verse below:)
إِذْ يُوحِي رَبُّكَ إِلَى الْمَلآئِكَةِ أَنِّي مَعَكُمْ فَثَبِّتُواْ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ سَأُلْقِي فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ الرَّعْبَ فَاضْرِبُواْ فَوْقَ الأَعْنَاقِ وَاضْرِبُواْ مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍ
8:12 (Asad) Lo! Thy Sustainer inspired the angels [to convey this His message to the believers]: "I am with you !" [And He commanded the angels:] "And, give firmness unto those who have attained to faith [with these words from Me]: `I shall cast terror into the hearts of those who are bent on denying the truth; strike, then, their necks, [O believers,] and strike off every one of their finger-tips!" The angels were thought on where exactly to strike.

- The lesson we can learn from this is; we should have excellence in everything we do and ihsan even in jihad. Jihad does not mean indiscriminate killing.

- Bukhari relates on the authority of Ibnu Abi Aufa RadhiyaAllahu 'anhu that the Prophet Sallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam said 'Do not look forward to meeting the enemy, and ask God for wellbeing. When you meet them, however, be steadfast, and know that the Garden is under the shade of swords.'
- From Sahih Al-Bukhari (4:52;2661), Narrated Salim Abu An-Nadr: (the freed slave of 'Umar bin 'Ubaidullah) I was Umar's clerk. Once Abdullah bin Abi Aufa wrote a letter to 'Umar when he proceeded to Al-Haruriya. I read in it that Allah's Apostle in one of his military expeditions against the enemy, waited till the sun declined and then he got up amongst the people saying, "O people! Do not wish to meet the enemy, and ask Allah for safety, but when you face the enemy, be patient, and remember that Paradise is under the shades of swords." Then he said, "O Allah, the Revealer of the Holy Book, and the Mover of the clouds and the Defeater of the clans, defeat them, and grant us victory over them."

Ibnu Abi Aufa RadhiyaAllahu 'anh came back from Persia and went to meet Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam. He reported that they had rejected his call and Rasool sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam replied "La Tamanna" which means do not anticipate, (look forward, hope, wish) and expect to meet the enemy. Hassan Al-Basri (Rahmatullahi 'alayh) said " it meant do not go out and fight the enemy.
- We should always think that if we die tonight, are we prepared to meet our Lord?
- We should have ihsan even in killing-the most unnatural thing for a human being, is to kill another human.
- Almost every battle that Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam fought was after fajar (battle of Khandaq was after Dhohr) ~ jihad should has the right timing. In the night of Badar, Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam didn't even sleep . Allah send down sakeena (rain): Mika'eel.
- 'and ask Allah for 'afiya'. Not ask for victory when meeting the enemy. If you die, you will be ask on what state you die but if you meet them, know that jannah lies under the sword.
-Allahuma munzilal al_kitaab wa mujriya al-sahab wahaazimal al_ahzaab: when Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam asked for rain, cloud runs to bring him rain.

Habib Ahmad (Rahmatullahu 'alayh) said that we should have aspiration to spread Islam in the land but we should not aspire to meet the enemy.

- “Whoever asks Allah sincerely for martyrdom [Allahumma inni as'aluk ash-shahadah], Allah will cause him to reach the status of the martyrs even if he dies in his bed.” ['Sahih al-Bukhari'; # 1909]‘ [Muslim, 55:13]

- When people are fighting because of pride, nationalism, progress, arabism, national pride, it is not jihad especially if they fight with their own people.
What meant by jihad is fighting the nafs, fighting against the lower desire. If your nafs is Amaratu bi su', you always have to fight it.
“A Mujahid (who is engaged in Jihad) is one who struggles with his own self in submission to the will of Allah.
"The Messenger Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam said (during his farewell Hajj): "Should I inform you of who the Mu'min (true believer) is? It is he who people are secure from him with regards to their wealth and their own selves. The (true) Muslim is he who people are safe from (being harmed by) his tongue and hand. The (true) Mujahid is he who performs Jihad an-Nafs in the obedience of Allah. And the (true) Muhajir (the migrant in the Cause of Allah) is he who abandons error and sin" [Ahmed, al-Haakim and at-Tabaraani]

According to Al-Qurtubi, the right of jihad is to be excellent. We have to excel in everything: driving, wearing clothes etc. And fight yourself to be obedient to Allah, and push your desire and fight against the shaitan by pushing away their whispering and the kuffar in his disbelieve. Don't be scared of what they will say to you. Be firm in your deen and be careful on how you deal with Allah in the state of goodness and poverty. wa rabitu, ribat ie to be a full time service of jihad. (Murabitun is a group of people at the edge of muslim world ready to do jihad).
1030. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Shall I not tell you something by which Allah erases the sins and elevates ranks (in Jannah)?'' The Companions said; "Certainly, O Messenger of Allah.'' He (PBUH) said, "Performing the Wudu' thoroughly in spite of difficult circumstances, walking with more paces to the mosque, and waiting for the next As-Salat (the prayer) after observing Salat; and that is Ar-Ribat, and that is Ar-Ribat.'' [Muslim].

We should observe ihsan even during slaughtering of animals- this include taking the animal away from its family (herd), give water to the animal and should not show ( expose) the knife if the animal is looking.

Relationship between individuals and the state: the booty will be divided into 5. Four for those who went to battle and one for the state.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Ramadhan preparation

RAMADHAN PREPARATION –
Notes taken during Ustaza Nagheba Hayel’s class (July 2010)

Fast of the elite (Inner form)
1) Guard the eyes
- ‘A glance is an arrow from the arrows of Iblis, whoever leaves it out of Godly fear, then Allah Exalted be He will grant him iman, the sweetness in which he will experience in his heart.
2) Guard the tongue
- ‘Fasting is a shield with which one protects itself, so let not him (who fasts) utter immodest (or foul) speech, nor let him act in an ignorant manner; and if a man quarrels with him or abuses him, he should say twice, I am fasting.’
- Allah created two barriers after the tongue: lip and teeth.
- Allah will send down tests upon us – liyabluwakum ayyukum ahsanu ‘amala (a good you want from Allah is Ghaliya)
3) Guard the ears
- All that is sinful to utter is sinful to listen to. (‘The backbiter and the listener are partners in sin – At-Tabrani)
4) Guard the limbs
- Imam Ghazali: keep all limbs away from sins: the hands and feet from reprehensible deeds, and the stomach from questionable food at the time for breaking fast. It is meaningless to fast – to abstain from lawful food – only to break one’s fast and eat what is unlawful.
- Try to find halal and tayyib food (good and pure)
- Food is our source of energy which will result in our action.
- A young boy took milk to Sayidina Abu Bakar RadhiyaAllahu ‘anhu. He was really hungry at that time and drank it straightaway. The boy said, “Ya Abu Bakar, you do not ask me the source of this milk. The milk was from goat that graze in so-and-so field. (The field belongs to orphans).” Upon hearing this, Sayidina Abu Bakar RadhiyaAllahu ‘anhu forced his finger down his throat and vomited out the milk. He said that any meat and flesh that grow in impermissible, the fire have more right to it.
- 50 years ago in Tarim, all the food consumed by the people of Tarim were grown in the city itself. They always said basmala when planting anything and the barakah can be seen from it. It goes to the people who eat it and the animal that ate it.
- ‘innamal bai’u anil turadhi’ A hadith which meant Verily buying and selling is by mutual agreement. Buying and selling should be based on fair trade.
- Imam Haddad said that those who eat good food, whether he wants it or not, he will do worship and if one eat impermissible food he will do sinful act whether he wants it or not.
5) Not to overeat
- Imam Ghazali: Anyone who puts a bag of food between his heart and his breast becomes blind
- The sunna was to eat bread made from wheat, and he Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa alihi wassalam eat once a day only. If he eats in the daytime, he will not eat at night time and vice versa.
- A student came to a syeikh and asked him, what do you say about a man who eats once a day? The Syeikh said that it is the food of prophets. The student asked again, what do you say about a man who eats twice a day? The Syeikh said that it is the food of the righteous. The student asked again, what do you say about a man who eats three times a day? And the Syeikh replied, why don’t you just build him a stable for him to graze?
- Overeating will prevent hudhur in our prayers.
- In tarim, they will break their fast with dates and water, then they will stand up and pray Maghrib prayer. After that, they will pray the Nawafil prayers and continue with Tasbih prayer. After the du’a for Tasbih prayer, they continue with Ratib Al-Haddad and after finishing all that, they will begin eating. According to Hababah Nur, this is the sa’atul Ghafla (the hour of heedlessness). A lot of people lost control at this time.

Outer form of fasting

Legal ruling pertaining the fast
1) Obligatory
- Fasting in the month of Ramadhan
- Make up fasts
- Expiation that requires fasting
- To fast for the prayer of rain if ordered to do so by the Hakim
- To fast if one has made an oath to do so

2) Mandub fasts (recommended)
- Yearly
o 1st of Muharram
o Asyoura (10th of Muharram) – by extension 9th of Muharram
o Day of Arafah – the mercy of Allah descend upon the earth, sunnah to fast if we are not in Arafah.
o 1st of Rajab
o 15th of Sha’ban – Imam Ali KaramaAllahu wajha said that five nights in a year that Allah will not reject du’as: 1st of Rajab, 15th of Sha’ban, night of Jum’ah, Night of Eidul Fitr and night of Eidul Adha. He never sleep on these nights.
o 6 days of Shawwal – Rasul sallalllahu ‘alayhi wa alihi wasssalam fasted 6 days straight after Eid.
o 9th of Zulhijja
o 1-9th of Zulhijja – The first ten days are sacred: Wal Fajr, wa layalin ‘asyr
- Monthly
o The white days (13th, 14th, 15th of every month)
o The black days (28th, 29th, 30th of every month) – Every good deeds in these days will be written 10 times ie if we fast 3 days in a month (3 x10 =30) is equal to fasting for the whole month.
- Weekly
o Monday, Thursday – Monday is the day I was born (Rasul sallallahu ‘alayhi wa alihi wassalam); Thursday is the day that actions is taken to Allah and I want it to be taken while I am in worship.
- Makruh (dislike)
o Single out Friday – Friday is the day of worship and we need strength to worship. According to Imam Ghazali Rahmatullahi ‘alayh, on Friday we should pray 4 rak’at to greet the mosque (Tahiyatul masjid) and in each raka’at we read 50 times Al-Ikhlas
o Single out Saturday
o Single out Sunday
o To fast for ones entire life if one fears it may harm
- Haram
o Fast on Eidul Fitr
o Fast on Eidul Adha
o Fast on Day of Tasyriq (11th, 12th and 13th of Zulhijja)
o Fast on second half of Sya’ban (16th onwards) – even if we start on 14th or 15th, that is fine; but if we break even one day after 16th, we shouldn’t start again.
o Fast on the day of doubt (30th of Sha’ban)
• exception for makruh and haram fasts are when the fasts become obligatory upon us.

(question: In Syafi’e school, it is sunnah to buy new clothes for Eid if we are able to do so, and sunnah to give away old clothes.)

Entering of month of Ramadhan:
Communal obligation to fast:
- the completion of 30 days of Sha’ban
- sighting of the new moon by a single witness that is considered upright
Individual obligation to fast:
- The sighting of the new moon by a single witness that is not considered upright
- If one believes a person that has informed him that he has sighted the moon.
- Through reasoning (ijtihad) that the month has entered.
According to Syafi’e school, moon should be seen with naked eyes.
If one person saw the moon with naked eyes at any city of the world, Imam from the Syafi’e school said that if it cause split in the community and if the leader command to fast, it is obligatory to fast (if we are sure that someone saw the moon in other places, whereas if we are sure that no one can see the moon, it is obligatory to complete 30 days of Sya’ban).

Question: we should always follow the land we are in, even if it will result in a traveller to fast 31 days or 28 days in Ramadhan.

Integrals of fast:
1) Intention
2) Specify the fast is obligatory
3) To abstain from everything that breaks the fast

Intention
a) the obligatory fast
enter: the maghrib preceding fast
exit: the fajr preceding fast
b) the recommended fast
enter: the maghrib preceding fast
exit: the zenith on the day of fasting (Zohor enters just after zenith)
Rasul salllallahu ‘alayhi wa alihi wassalam came to Sayidatina A’isya RadyhiaAllahu ‘anha and asked whether they have any food. Upon hearing there is no food, he Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa alihi wassalam decided to fast on that day.
- If one forgets that it is Ramadhan, it is obligatory upon him to fast (imsak) but the fast is not counted and he has to make up for it later. The fast is in honouring the month of Ramadhan.
- To specify the type of fast is obligatory: one specify the type of fast whilst making the intention ie I intend to fast for Ramadhan or I intend to fast for my oath or I intend to fast for make up fast.
- It is recommended to specify a Sunnah fast that is attached to a specific time ie the Day of Arafah, ‘Asyoura etc.
- The intention should be in the heart and tongue act as the reminder of the heart (It is sunnah to say it with tongue).
- The optimal intention is I intend to fast tomorrow the current obligatory fast of Ramadhan in the present year for Allah the Most High (Nawaytu Sawma Ghadin an ada’I fardhu syahri ramadhana fi hazihi sanah lillahi ta’ala.)

To abstain from all that breaks the fast
- apostasy
- the menstrual cycle, post natal bleeding or giving birth (it is sunnah to eat something to break the fast, and similarly it is sunnah to fast (imsak) once bleeding stop even if it is in the middle of the day).
- Insanity
- To lose conscience for the entire fasting day e.g. fainting, epileptic fit or comma
- Eating on purpose (if it is a sunnah fast and one normally fast for example on a Monday, and he forgets that it is a Monday, he can still fast even after eating breakfast and realised it is a Monday).
- Drinking
- Taking snuffs (through nasal cavity that affected sinuses)
- Suppositories (for istinja’, hands should not be placed far inside)
- Pouring water, oil or the like into the ears until it reaches the eardrum
- Anything that enters the body cavity whether stabbed into it or for medical reasons (intramuscular injections do not break fast).
- Vomiting (if done deliberately)
- Sexual intercourse or deliberate orgasm (If a man enters a woman, the man has to pay dispensation: 1. free a slave, or if he can’t 2. qadha (make-up fast) for two consecutive months), and if he can’t eg for medical reasons 3. feed 60 impoverished people a mudd)
(Deliberate orgasm means a person looked intentionally on a pornographic images with intention for orgasm, or doing masturbation).

That which is disliked (Makruh) to do during fasting

- to chew on something (chewing on things that have no flavour like wood)
- to taste food (it is mubah (permissible) for one who is cooking or a restaurant owner to taste food and spit it out and rinse their mouth).
- Blood letting (hajama) – including taking blood
- To rinse mouth with water
- To immerse oneself in water
- To use miswak after the zenith – to brush teeth with toothpaste is makru as it falls in the tasting category)
- To sleep much during the day
- To eat much after breaking the fast

Recommended (sunnah) acts during fasting

- to hasten breaking up the fast
- to take sahoor (to eat or drink after mid-night: rely upon the sahoor in your fast)
- to break the fast up on odd number of fresh dates (best:3), or dry dates, or zamzam water, or water, something that is sweet and fress (honey, figs, raisins), or sweet and cooked (halawa). The best things to break our fast are according to the order above.
Ulama said after breaking the fast, make intention, after maghrib: make intention, after tarawih: make intention and after sahoor make intention (The best time to make intention is after sahoor).
- To make du’a (the moment breaking the fast: Allhuma laka sumtu , wa ‘ala rizqika aftartu)
- To feed people that are fasting (community spirit, when you break a fast of a fasting one, you will get his reward without his rewards being lessen)
- To make ghusl because of any higher ritual impurities before fajr (Makruh to immerse onself in water)
- To pray tarawih each night of Ramadhan (rasul sallallahu ‘alayhi wa alihi wassalam always prayed at least 20 rak’ah of tarawih each night, 8 rak’at in masjid and he will continue the rest at home).
- To recite much qur’an with contemplation of its words.
- To implement as many sunnahs as one can
- To increase in righteous acts (giving charity, visiting the sick etc.)

Qadha (to make up the fast)

An obligatory fast that has been missed due to breaking the fast, lawfully or unlawfully. (Lawfully : menstruation, forgetting ones intention etc; unlawfully = breaking the fast intentionally etc)

Qada and fidya (dispensation

A person who does not fast due to fear of other than one self ie.
- the pregnant one who fears for her unborn child
- the breastfeeding one that fears for her suckling child
A person who has not made up obligatory fasts before the entering of the next Ramadhan.

Fidya

- A person unable to fast an obligatory fast due to old age, illness or the like.

Fidya is to give to the needy one mudd (0.51litre) of the staple of the land one is in for each day missed. (A needy one is a muslim who can’t meet all his requirements)

If make up fast is delayed for a second Ramadhan then the fidya is doubled, if one delays it for another Ramadhan then the fidya is tripled and so on.

Q&A
- In Syafi’e mazhab, it is not permissible to replace Fidya with money.
- The prayer timetable of a community is reliable if the ‘ulama follow it.
- For the intention, make all the good intention that we can think of and finish it with what Rasul sallallahu ‘alayhi wa alihi wassalam intended, and the awliya’ and the soliheen intended.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Sha'ban (Translated by Sidi Amjad in Tarim)

SHA`BAN

1. Repentance & Fasting:
It is highly recommended to repent frequently (make tawbah) and increase in acts of worship, especially fasting. Whoever prepares themselves with acts of worship and repentance in Sha‘bān will reap the benefits of those acts in Ramadān.

2. Salutations Upon the Prophet e:
Sha‘bān is the month of the Prophet e , for he said, “Sha‘bān is my month.”
It was in this month that the famous verse regarding sending blessing and peace on the Prophet was revealed:
﴿ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلاَئِكَـتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِيِّ يٰأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِيماً ﴾
﴾ Allah and His Angels send their blessings upon the Prophet, O you who believe send blessings upon him and salutations of peace ﴿
(33:56)
Therefore, it is highly encouraged to increase in sending one’s salutations upon him.

3. The 15th Night of Sha‘bān:
‘Atā’ ibn Yasār narrates: “On the 15th night of Sha‘bān the Angel of Death copies down the names of all those who will die from that Sha‘bān to the next Sha‘bān...and there is no night after Laylat Al-Qadr better than the 15th night of Sha‘bān.”
Other hadiths also describe the 15th night as being the night in which Allah decrees everyone’s provision, even after-worldly provisions (Paradise, Hell), therefore it is important to bring that night to life through prayer, reciting the Qur’an, and repentance.
Ibn ‘Umar narrates that the Prophet e , said: “There are five nights on which du‘ā’ is not rejected: Thursday night, the first night of Rajab, the 15th night of Sha‘bān, Laylat Al-Qadr, and on the eve of the two ‘Eids.” [Al-Suyuti in his Al-Jami']
It is also recommended to say the du‘ā’:
اللّهُمَ إنَّكَ عفوٌ كريمٌ تُحِبَّ العَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَني، اللّهُمَّ إنّي أسْألُكَ العَفْوَ والعَافية والمُعَافَاةَ الدَّائِمة في الدِّين والدُّنيا والأخِرَة
Allahumma innaka ‘Afūwun Karīmun tuhib ul ‘afwa fa‘afu ‘annī, Allahumma innī as’aluka al-‘afū, wa al-‘āfīyah wa al-mu‘āfāt ad-da’imah fī ad-dīni wa ad-dunyā wa al-ākhirah.
O Allah, You are Pardoning and Generous and You love to pardon, so pardon me. O Allah, I ask You for Your pardon, and constant well-being in this life, and in the hereafter.

It is also highly recommended to read Surah Yā-Sīn three times on that night, each time with a specific intention:
1. The first time with the intention of Allah increasing the length of your life in worship and good deeds.
2. The second time with the intention of Allah protecting you from tribulations.
3. Lastly, with the intention of Allah not making you reliant on other people.

Clarification: “Giving life to the night” is said to be staying up most of the night in worship, although other scholars have said just one hour. Others have said just be determined to pray ‘Ishā in congregation and Fajr in congregation and that will fulfill “giving life to the night.”

May Allah bless us all and the whole Ummah throughout this month and bless us even more in Ramadān.
والحمد لله رب العالمين

Saturday, April 03, 2010

The five salats (branch 21)

The Five Salats
77 Branches of Faith, Imam Al-Bayhaqi (03.04.10)

- Kafara means covering up. Leaving salah is kufur and doing solah is kafarah (covering up the sins).

- In the full version of the book, there is a chapter about doing prayers in congregation and consequences of abandoning jama'ah without excuse (uzur). Uzur according to Imam Haddad (Rahmatullahi 'alayh) is extreme difficulty that one could hardly bear for example ill health.
- Sayidina Abdullah ibnu Umm Makhtum (a blind companion, radhiyaAllahu 'anh) was having difficulty to go to the masjid. He has no one to guide him to the masjid and the path has many potholes and lizards. Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam said to him you are excused. Then, when he wanted to leave Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam asked him 'atasma' (can you hear) hayya 'alal solah, hayya 'alal falah? and he said yes. Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassallam said 'Halla Mahalla' It is better for you to come.
- Uzur is like raining heavily that makes it difficult to go to the masjid. Most scholars agreed that difficulties include snow, hurricane and chronic diarrhoea.

- Riyadhul Saliheen 1050. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “There are angels which take turns in being with you in the night and other angels in the day and they meet together at the prayers of Fajr and ‘Asr. Then the ones who were with you during the night ascend and Allah asks them - although He knows better than they do - ‘How were My slaves when you left them?’ They say, ‘When we left them they were praying and when we came to them, they were praying.’” [Agreed upon] Allah asked the angels as a tasyrif (honour) for them and tasyrif for you.

- 1057. Abu Musa reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The people who get the greatest reward for the prayer are those who live furthest away and then the next furthest. Someone who waits for the prayer so that he can pray it with the Imam has a greater reward than someone who prays and then goes to sleep.” [Agreed upon].

- 1070. Abu’d-Darda’ said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, ‘If there are three in a village or desert and they do not pray (together) Shaytan will overpower them. You must perform the group prayer. The wolf devours the stray sheep.” [Abu Dawud]

- 1056. Jabir said, “The area around the mosque was empty and the Banu Salama wanted to move near to the mosque and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, heard about it. He said to them, ‘It has reached me that you want to move near to the mosque?’ They said, ‘Yes, Messenger of Allah, we do want that.’ He said, ‘Banu Salama, keep the houses you have. Your footprints are written down. Keep the houses you have! Your footprints are written down.’” [Muslim]. Banu Salma was the tribe that welcomed Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam in Madina. Masjid Jum'a was built on the land of Banu Salma.

- Abdullah Ibnu Abbas radhiyaAllahu 'anhu lived in Taif and not in Haram (He is one of the most knowledgable companions). The Haram is the only place that if someone wants to do evil, he will be punish for it. 120 rahmah descended to Ka'bah itself and distributed from thereof.

- Rasul sallalahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam said ”.. The prayer done by two persons is superior to the prayer done by one person; the prayer done by three persons is superior to the prayer done by two persons..” (Abu Dawud).

- Musalla is not a masjid or jami'. It is a place where your prayer place in the house or by the roadside etc.

- We can understand the role of masjid in the community from the story of Abu Hurayra and one glass of milk. Rasul sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam asked Abu Hurayra (RadhiyaAllahu 'anhu) to pass one glass of milk to Ahlus suffah (between 50-700 people at time). Abu Hurarayrah was hungry himself at that time but he still listened to Rasul sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam's order. After everyone drank the milk, Rasul salllallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam told him 'Ya Aba Hirr, drink (isyrab)' twice and he drank until he can't drink anymore “No, by the one who sent you with the truth, I have no room left in my belly for it!”.
~ the masjid is a place of sanctuary for everybody.
~ Sayidina Abdullah ibnu Makhtum radhiyaAllahu 'anhu was asked to come to masjid eventhough he was a blind man.

- Two narrations about building a mosque and getting house (bayt) in Jannah.
1) Rasul salllahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam said: “Whosoever builds a masjid requesting the reward of Allah, then Allah will build for him a house in jannah.”
2) Rasul sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassallam said: “Whosoever shares in building a masjid for Allah,even if it is as small as a bird’s nest, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.” [Ahmad]

-Rasulullah saw said: 'If you see (iza ra'aitum) a man who is used to Masjid, bear witness that he has Iman. Allah swt says: Surely (innama) the only one who built the mosque is the one who has iman.' Built means the one who associate himself with the mosque, not just by building it but by being part of it. Mosque has to be a living functioning entity in the community.

- On Yawmul Jum'ah (Friday),يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِي لِلصَّلَاةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

62:9 fas'aw ila zikrilLah : Mufasiroon said it meant hasten to the Khutba

Solat means to put effort into something. We have to put the effort in our body and from the heart. This includes ghusl for Friday which can be done anytime after Fajar. (For eid, we can do the Ghusl from nightime).

- وَشَاهِدٍ وَمَشْهُودٍ 85:3
Witness and witnessed; Syaheed - on the Day of Jum'ah, the Jum'ah will be a witness for you; Masyhood - on the Day of Arafa, you witnessed.

- In one of the sermon on Friday, Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam said 'O people, turn back to Your Lord before you die...'

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Salawat habib Umar

Received from an Indonesian brother:
Salawat read by habib Umar (HafidzuLlah) especially in this blessed month of Rabi'ul Awwal.


اللهم صلِّ وسلِّم وبارِك على النورِ المبين، عبدِك وحبيبِك سيدِنا محمدٍ الأمين، وعلى آلهِ وصحبه، وحقِّقنا بِحُبِّه، وأكرِمنا بِقُربِه، واجعَلنا مِن رفقائه يا ربَّ العالمين

Al-hikam 24, 25, 26

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