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.

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.

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

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...'

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

Advice to women from Habib Kadzim As-Saqqaf

Bismillah

- A woman can complete half of good character by adornment of faith.
- Three foundations of good trait
1. character of faith
2. how we conduct ourselves with God
3. how we conduct ourselves with creations including ourselves
- Do not struck anyone on their faces as Allah created Adam min wajhihi (His face).
- A demon always desire to severe one’s outer form and inner form. The inside is faith.
- Imam Rifa’I (rahmatuLlahu ‘alayh) has a very good character. Once, a person slandered him and he wrote a nice letter to the man. He said that if what you are saying is true, may Allah forgive me and if what you are saying is not true then may Allah increase you.
- In a madrasa, a syeikh heard of a rumour about dispute between his students. Some of the students planned to beat another student at night time. The syeikh covered himself with a blanket in the student’s bed and he was jumped upon and beaten badly. When the syeikh came out, he said to the students that they can’t handle a problem unless the problems get out from them. He cured their problems and tasted sweetness in the tribulation.
- Rasul Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa alihi Wassalam has good character and everyone bore witness of his good character Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa alihi Wassalam.

- Good character:
1. pardon those who did wrong to you.
2. maintain ties with those who severed it.
3. give to those who withhold from you.
- If a child is cold towards his mother (jafa’), husband to wife, if someone is cold to you, be warm with them.
- If you have insincere intentions, make repentance to Allah.
- How many times you can try to maintain ties? Keep on trying until everything become natural to you.
- Protect your heart from being affected by
1. dealing with people who mistreated you like he is a child.
2. flip their words.

- Some good traits can only be found in women. That is why Rasul Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa alihi Wassalam held class for women only one day in a week.
1. Attribute of patience
2. fearful of God
- Women need lots of patience and she will gain the love of Allah.
Sayidatina Asma’ Binti Abu Bakar, wife of Sayidina Zubayr Ibnu Awwam (Radhiya Allahu ‘anhuma) used to get datestones from great distance (farsakh). She put it on her head and walked back, grind them and fed the camel with it. On the way, she met Rasul Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa alihi Wassalam and some companions. Rasul Sallallahu ‘alayhi Wassalam asked her to go on the back of his camel. There were some men near Rasul Sallallahu ‘alayhi Wassalam with sheeps. When Sayidatina Asma radhiyaAllahu ‘anha returned home, Zubayr came home later and she told him, Rasul motioned her to ride on the camel. Zubayr RadhiyaAllahu ‘anh said, ‘you carrying deadstones on your head is more difficult for me to bear.’ She is a very patient woman.
- Sayidatina Fatimah radhiyaAllahu ‘anha was related by imam Ahmad bin Hanbal Rahmatullahu ‘alayh, the one who make her happy make me happy and whenever he sallallahu ‘alayhi Wassalam saw Fatimah, he will stands up and kiss her forehead. Sayidatina Fatima used to grind datestones until she had blisters on her blessed hands. The reasons why we are hearing the hadith is because of Sayidatina Fatima ‘alayhi salam (33x subhanAllah..) has strength and vigour in remembering Allah.
- The life in Rasul sallallahu ‘alayhi wassalam’s time was not an easy life. It demands patience and great amount of faith in the heart.
- Rasul Sallallahu ‘alayhi Wassalam will pray when he saw a great woman and he will say I love you and he will pray for them.
- We need to have a society of knowledge and piety, and we can see they are modest. ‘wa iza zahabal eeman, zahabal haya’
- Modesty was found in abundant in prophets and women surrounding the prophets.

- Sayidatina ‘Aisyah radhiyaAllahu ‘anha remembers God much and used to fast continuously.
- Once Sayidina Bilal RadhiyaAllahu ‘anhu went through the crowd until he was surrounded by women. Rasul Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa alihi Wassalam was addressing them. ‘O women! Give in charity. Give in charity. And I saw in jahannam, lots of woman.’ A woman stood up and asked Rasul sallallahu ‘alayhi wa alihi Wassalam why is the women majority in naar? ‘They did not fulfil the rights of husbands have over them.’
Never argue with your husbands even when you are right!
Rasul sallallahu ‘alayhi Wassalam used the word Kufr ie ungrateful towards husbands.
And at the time of Rasul sallallahu ‘alayhi wa alihi Wassalam, women did not earn wages but he still said to give in charity. Even giving something small is really a great thing.

- Every woman has a portion of mercy in them. 1) patience 2) modesty 3) zikrulLah : light for this world and the next.

- 1) We need to revive prayers before fajr, even 3 minutes before fajar.
2) Remembrance of God
3) Good character and practising the religion ( sometime practising the religion can illuminate our heart more than zikr).

- Regarding backbiting: it will result in harm for the backbiter. We have to control our tongue and seek help. We have to deal with the issues and not harming ourselves by doing backbiting.

-“Whoever sends Salawat (salutations) on me ten times in the morning and ten times in the evening, he will get my syafa’ah (intercession)".
-Whoever read Salawat 100 times after maghrib and 100 times after fajar prayer, Allah will grant him 100 of what he needs: 70 in the next world and 30 from this world.

Allahumma Salli ‘ala Sayidina wa habibina Rasulillah Sallahu ‘alayhi wa alihi Wassalam ‘adada kulli zarrah alfa marrah.

Why Do Women Have To?

Woman’s Reflection on Leading Prayer
© 2005 Yasmin Mogahed

—–

On March 18, 2005, Amina Wadud led the first female-led Jumuah (Friday) prayer. On that day women took a huge step towards being more like men. But, did we come closer to actualizing our God-given liberation?

I don’t think so.

What we so often forget is that God has honored the woman by giving her value in relation to God—not in relation to men. But as western feminism erases God from the scene, there is no standard left—but men. As a result the western feminist is forced to find her value in relation to a man. And in so doing she has accepted a faulty assumption. She has accepted that man is the standard, and thus a woman can never be a full human being until she becomes just like a man—the standard.

When a man cut his hair short, she wanted to cut her hair short. When a man joined the army, she wanted to join the army. She wanted these things for no other reason than because the “standard” had it.

What she didn’t recognize was that God dignifies both men and women in their distinctiveness–not their sameness.
And on March 18, Muslim women made the very same mistake.

For 1400 years there has been a consensus of the scholars that men are to lead prayer. As a Muslim woman, why does this matter? The one who leads prayer is not spiritually superior in any way. Something is not better just because a man does it. And leading prayer is not better, just because it’s leading. Had it been the role of women or had it been more divine, why wouldn’t the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa alihi wa salam) have asked Ayesha or Khadija, or Fatima (radi Allahu anhum)—the greatest women of all time—to lead? These women were promised heaven—and yet they never lead prayer.

But now for the first time in 1400 years, we look at a man leading prayer and we think, "That’s not fair." We think so although God has given no special privilege to the one who leads. The imam is no higher in the eyes of God than the one who prays behind.

On the other hand, only a woman can be a mother. And God has given special privilege to a mother. The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa alihi wa salam) taught us that heaven lies at the feet of mothers. But no matter what a man does he can never be a mother. So why is that not unfair?

When asked who is most deserving of our kind treatment? The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa alihi wa salam) replied 'your mother' three times before saying 'your father' only once. Isn’t that sexist? No matter what a man does he will never be able to have the status of a mother.

And yet even when God honors us with something uniquely feminine, we are too busy trying to find our worth in reference to men, to value it—or even notice. We too have accepted men as the standard; so anything uniquely feminine is, by definition, inferior. Being sensitive is an insult, becoming a mother—a degradation. In the battle between stoic rationality (considered masculine) and self-less compassion (considered feminine), rationality reigns supreme.

As soon as we accept that everything a man has and does is better, all that follows is just a knee jerk reaction: if men have it—we want it too. If men pray in the front rows, we assume this is better, so we want to pray in the front rows too. If men lead prayer, we assume the imam is closer to God, so we want to lead prayer too. Somewhere along the line we’ve accepted the notion that having a position of worldly leadership is some indication of one’s position with God.

A Muslim woman does not need to degrade herself in this way. She has God's word as a standard. She has God to give her value; she doesn’t need a man.



In fact, in our crusade to follow men, we, as women, never even stopped to examine the possibility that what we have is better for us. In some cases we even gave up what was higher only to be like men.

Fifty years ago, society told us that men were superior because they left the home to work in factories. We were mothers. And yet, we were told that it was women’s liberation to abandon the raising of another human being in order to work on a machine. We accepted that working in a factory was superior to raising the foundation of society—just because a man did it.

Then after working, we were expected to be superhuman—the perfect mother, the perfect wife, the perfect homemaker—and have the perfect career. And while there is nothing wrong, by definition, with a woman having a career, we soon came to realize what we had sacrificed by blindly mimicking men. We watched as our children became strangers and soon recognized the privilege we’d given up.

And so only now—given the choice—women in the West are choosing to stay home to raise their children. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, only 31 percent of mothers with babies, and 18 percent of mothers with two or more children, are working full-time. And of those working mothers, a survey conducted by Parenting Magazine in 2000, found that 93% of them say they would rather be home with their kids, but are compelled to work due to ‘financial obligations.’ These ‘obligations’ are imposed on women by the gender sameness of the modern West, and removed from women by the gender distinctiveness of Islam.

It took women in the West almost a century of experimentation to realize a privilege given to Muslim women 1400 years ago.

Given my privilege as a woman, I only degrade myself by trying to be something I’m not–and in all honesty–don’t want to be: a man. As women, we will never reach true liberation until we stop trying to mimic men, and value the beauty in our own God-given distinctiveness.

If given a choice between stoic justice and compassion, I choose compassion. And if given a choice between worldly leadership and heaven at my feet—I choose heaven.

Zulhijjah

BismilLah

AlhamdulilLah we're approaching Zulhijjah. This is tahleel that can be read during the first ten days of Zulhijjah from the book 'Kanzul najah wassooroor' by Syeikh Abdul Hamid bin Syeikh Muhammad Ali Qudus (RahmatuLlah 'Alayhim).

Zulhijjah

BismilLah

Someone told me that the tahlil for zulhijjah is unclear. So, this was scanned again and hope it's a bit clearer.. May it benefit..

Mukhtar Al-Hadith

Mukhtār al-Hadith al-Sharif (Selection of Noble Prophetic Traditions) Al-Habib ‘Umar b. Hafiż

Hadith two:
قال رسول الله , ‘ أبغض الرجال ٳلى الله الألدالخصيم) .رواه البخاري ومسلم(

The Messenger of God Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa alihi Wassalam said, ‘The most abhorrent of men in God’s sight is an obstinate quarreller.’ (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)


Aladdul khasim: Distant from Allah. If we don’t have the habit of quarreling, then we will be nearer to Allah. No one can taste the true faith until he leaves jadal (arguing).
If we leave arguing while we are in the wrong side, a house will be built for us in the periphery of jannah. Imagine what we will get if we did not argue while we are right.
(“I guarantee a house in Jannah (Paradise) for one who gives up arguing, even if he is in the right; and I guarantee a house in the middle of Jannah for one who abandons lying even when joking / for the sake of fun; and I guarantee a house in the highest part of Jannah for one who has good manners.” [Prophet Muhammad (صلي الله عليه وسلم) - reported by Imam Abu Dawud]
Sa’eed bin Musayyeb says: Once the Prophet was sitting with his Companions, and one person used insulting words against Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), causing him pain. But Abu Bakr remained silent. The person again used bitter words against Abu Bakr, and still Abu Bakr did not respond. The third time when this ignorant person hurt Abu Bakr with his tongue, Abu Bakr tried answering back.
At this point the Prophet got up. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) asked him, “Are you displeased with me, O Messenger of Allah?” The Prophet replied, “No, but (when you remained silent) an angel came down from the heaven responding to this man’s talk. But the moment you started replying to that man, the angel went away and the devil sat down. And I cannot sit where the devil is sitting.” Abu Dawood 041 4878. (Copied and thanks to http://muslimology.wordpress.com/2008/12/16/arguing-manners-in-islam/)

Abghada is a superlative word meaning the most distant.
There are three types of argumentation:
1) Mira’ : owes fault in other person. We have to always remember that outward is not an indication to the inward). Mira’ is when one looked lowly on the other person. People of Quraisy used to looked down on Rasulullahi Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa alihi Wassalam when he did Adamic lifestyle eg walking in marketplace. Mira’ prevents one from accepting and learning from the other person.
2) Mujadalah : debating. Imam Ghazali RahmatuLlahu ‘alayh mentioned there are 2 forms of mujadalah and both came from kibriya’ (arrogance)
a. Wanting an upper hand in debate
b. Finding faults in the other person's discourse
3) Al-Khusuma : arguing for rights that belongs to you. Habib Ibrahim bin Aqil in Yemen owned a piece of land. Another person claimed for that land in a masjid. Habib Syatri walked in at that time and said, ‘As for the matter of deen, do so but in the matter of dunya, you will be in khusuma.

Arguing can become a habit.

Problems that arises from arguing:
- start having enmity towards others.
- have satisfaction when something bad happen to other and dissatisfied when good things happen to him
- preoccupied with argumentation especially in prayers.
- It is hard to find positive things arising from argumentation.
- Missing the reward of ‘waqooloo lilnnasi husnan’ 2:83 : and speak fair to the people
- And missing the reward of ‘Yuthabbitu Allahu allatheena amanoo bialqawli alththabiti’ 14:27 : Allah will establish in strength those who believe, with the word that stands firm

Rasul Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa alihi Wassalam is also known for jawa’mi’ool kalam ie his words encompass meanings.

Sayidina Isa ‘alayhi salam walked with hawwariyoon (his companions) and they passed by a dead dog. The hawariyoon is making negative remarks on the carcass but Sayidina Isa ‘alayhi salam noticed that the dog’s teeth were well-spaced. (We always have to think good of a situation).

Once, Habib Abdul Qadir As-Saqqaf (Hafizullah) was sitting and teaching students in his gathering. A person came in and started insulting al-habib. He did not reply to the man and the next day the same person came back and apologised. He became al-Habib’s student from then on.



Hadith three:
قال رسول الله‘, اتق الله حيثما كنت, واتبع اڷسيئۃ الحسنۃ تمحھا وخالق الناس بخلق حسن ) . ’ حديث حسن رواه الترمذي(.

The Messenger of God Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa alihi wassalam said, ‘Fear God wherever you may be, and follow a bad deed with a virtuous deed, thus effacing it. And be disposed to people with beautiful character.’ (Hadith Hassan al-Tirmidhì)


Tuqya: to separate.
Taqwa is built from knowledge.
There are four levels taqwa:
1) taqwa al-kufr
2) taqwa al-muharamat : According to Syeikh Yahya, most people are in this area).
3) Taqwa al-makruhaat
4) Taqwa al-mubahat

Post Ramadhan advice

1st Oct- Post Ramadan Advice, Gratitude and Reflection

Notes from Sheikh Ibrahim Osi-Efa's kalima at the Mawlid- 1st October 2009, Liverpool.
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Alhamdulilah for the bounties that Allah swt continuously extends upon us- Alhamdulilah we are of those that embrace and receive them, in sha Allah with hearts that are grateful to Allah.

Our hearts need to show some sort of gratitude so we may be of those that are “few”- We ask Allah to make us from the few. "Very few of my servants are truly grateful" - And we ask Allah to not take us from this temporal abode except that we are of those who show eternal and perpetual gratitude to Allah, swt for His blessings-

Amongst them we heard about Ramadan- and why did Allah single out this ummah and single out each and every one of us to be members of his ummah- and allowed us to have Ramadan- which communities before us did not have the privilege to enjoy. Allah allowed us to enjoy the great fruits of this blessed month-

Sahih hadith- in response to the great prayer of the great Archangel Gabriel "The one who reaches Ramadan and exits the month is not forgiven therein- may Allah render him distant" – the Prophet (sallahu alayhi wa alih wa salam) said: Ameen..

In Ramadan Allah swt continuously extends towards us His mercy and grace, such that we may enter into the sphere of His forgiveness, and move to His grace in the world to have- [...]

Allah chose each and every one of us, and if we were to stop and ponder- and Allah summons each and every one of us to contemplate and ponder- and if we were to ponder the great signs around us, the signs that are in the web- and the spider is a great creature- it is a creature of the Quran- the spider is great because it came pre-eternally on the “tongue” of Allah sub7an wa ta3ala. From the speech of Allah- that Allah should mention such a creature-

But likewise, the things that Allah extends to us- are also from the greater signs of Allah – and Allah wants each and every one of us to ponder- From the signs that Allah forgives in Ramadan is the blessed month of Shawwal – because the sign for any sign of acceptance- Qabool- of an act by Allah- is that we become people of thabat- we become firm upon the act and we increase in it thereafter.

So when we look at the blessed month of Ramadan- and we tie the 29/30 days to the 6 days of Shawwal- and among the signs of acceptance is that a person moves into Shawwal looking forward to the continuation of the great deeds and nafa7at that Allah gave them in Ramadan. They fasted in Ramadan so likewise they fast in Shawwal. They stood in night prayer in Ramadan – their sides left their beds in the night of Ramadan- so likewise they yearn to experience the nights in Shawwal and the months that come after Shawwal- They were of those who gave charity to needy people in Ramadan and they continue and allow this to overflow into the month of Shawwal..such that Allah will allow His great bounty to overflow unto each and every one of us.

That is the purpose of Ramadan because Allah does not give us gifts in order to abase us - though He is the one who abases/ lowers - but "I am in the opinion of My servant so let him perceive me as He wants”- so therefore we see Allah in a beautiful manner and He extends Ramadan to us in order to raise us - May Allah render us in the sphere of His ennoblement- Ameen

So we ask ourselves- how are we with Allah- because it’s so easy- because of the great deeds we do in Ramadan- to rely upon our deeds- Allah will then show the one who relies upon his deeds in Ramadan, what life is like when we are not receiving this type of sustenance from the divine- when we move into Shawwal we are not of those who fast- when we move into Shawwal we are not of those who frequent the mosque- when we move into Shawwal we are not of the ones who stand by night and tears fall from their eyes- when we move into Shawwal we are not of those who seek forgiveness- when we move into Shawwal the right hand is not above the left hand (the left hand is aware of what the right gives)- When we move into Shawwal we develop a Religious amnesia and forget the great things Allah bestows upon us in this blessed month-

We must become people who are more loftier than that- we must become people who do not just sit around the camp fire and sing the praises of the Messenger of Allah- but we should be like those great companions, who did not necessarily have to sing the praises often because they lived the praises of the Messenger of Allah- and every single one of us has been given examples in Sayedina Abubakr al Siddique, given examples in Sayedina Umar bin al Khattab, given examples in Uthman bin Affan- Dhun-Nooaryn- and given examples in the great Ali bin Abi talib- and the great Ayesha al Siddiqa, or Khadija al Kubra- the great men and women who walked in the presence of that great and lofty being sallallahu alayh wa ala aalih- and we should take them as guides unto Allah – because no one reaches the Prophet except through those blessed people- and no one reaches Allah except through whom- through the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa ala alaih.

Things to ponder- when Allah extends gifts He also extends many things to each and every one of us to ponder- each and every one of us should ponder 'afiya- when we sit here in wellbeing- wellbeing in terms of Allah bringing us to a blessed gathering- wellbeing in terms of health- we all see, we all hear- if we ask people to speak, they can speak- look at what Allah gave us, but when last did we thank Allah for speech? Thank Allah for sight? Thank Allah for ‘afiya? The Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasalam told his uncle Abbas- “When you ask Allah for anything, ask for ‘afiya”- wellbeing inwardly and outwardly.

We raise our hands to Allah for one of our dear sisters, sister Sobia- [...]
How temporal and flimsy this life is, and life in and of itself is fragile- and Allah wants us to ponder this- and when we ponder this we ponder the creator of that fragility, and that life and hearts, and intellect to ponder those things-
So a sister who was like each and every one of us- who would frequent these gatherings- blessed gatherings- and nafa7at that Allah sends and extends to us- Now she is under Grace of Allah and the subtlety of Allah- as she recovers in sha Allah with the dua’ of each and every one of us- in hospital – This could be any of us, it can happen to us-

And stepping behind the veil is inevitable- and yet why are we people who prefer this world over that which is to come- that which is temporary over that which will remain forever- were we to ponder the trees, we would understand that the trees glorify Allah- were we to ponder the vast oceans we would understand that the oceans in their vastness glorify Allah, the mountains glorify Allah- were we to move beyond the veil this thick dense existence we would see creatures that glorify Allah- so why then is it that we glorify this world? And many of us glorify with the tongue, or ponder with the mind, and yet were we to gaze at our hearts they are turned to the Qibla of this world – so when are we going to the Prophet as an example where he says to Syedatina Aisha- “If you want Allah and dar al aakhira, you must give up this world”-
Why don’t we listen to the words of Sayedina Umar bin al Khattab- “if Allah was to give anyone the dunya and the aakhira he would give it to me because I joined between harshness and gentleness- but Allah does not give the dunya and aakhira to anybody”- So which one of us is going to be of those who will prefer the other?
And Allah is the ultimate other- which one of those will be of those who prefers the Other- as what we have been given is lofty-

We see the Prophet, when he saw a man strike another in the face, said: "Don't strike him in the face as Allah created Adam in His ‘form’" – and the ‘form’ is in terms of meaning – Allah gave to Adam life, and He gave to each and every one of us life- when did we thank Allah for hayaa, for the fact that we live? Allah gave Sayedina Adam knowledge – when did we thank Allah for the knowledge He has given us? Many of us sit in this room as university students- Allah could have given you a sheep’s brain and allowed you to sit in exams and make an utter fool of yourself- but Allah gave you an intellect- but ponder, why? He gave you an intellect to become a pharmascist? A doctor? An engineer? A computer programmer? He gave you an intellect to become an 'abd- a slave to Allah – so when are we going to become slaves to Allah- When we pray we take the intellect and place it on the floor and we say “Allahu Akbar!” That’s why Allah gave us an intellect and that is from the signs of the divine- Allah who has the attributes of Knowledge and Perception. Allah gave us the ability to will and to want- Allah gave us eyes so we could see, ears so we could hear, tongues so we could speak-

Were we to ponder creation without life- in the real sense- or knowledge- like trees- they have no sight, or hearing, or intellect and yet they still ponder and glorify! We were in Spain recently with one of our teachers, Dr. Umar Abdullah- and we walked outside the mosque at 3am, pitch black, no artificial light- and we hear something like an ocean- like a roaring ocean- and he asked “What’s that sound?” and I said, “That’s the wind..” and he said “Its not ordinary wind- its wind Allah sends to the pine trees- the vocal sounds of the pine trees- and that sound is the sound of the pine trees glorifying Allah”- That’s pine trees! What about us?!

Let us become new people after Ramadan, because Ramadan is about tajdid, bringing ourselves back to life- and by Allah we need to be living creatures- Allah did not give us life in order for us to be dead. And we see the Prophet said “human beings are asleep, [and sleep is synonymous of death]- and when they die, they wake up”-