Monday, November 30, 2009

the importance of attending mosque

Volume 1, Book 11, Number 589:
Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle said, "If the people knew the reward for pronouncing the Adhan and for standing in the first row (in congregational prayers) and found no other way to get that except by drawing lots they would draw lots, and if they knew the reward of the Zuhr prayer (in the early moments of its stated time) they would race for it (go early) and if they knew the reward of 'Isha' and Fajr (morning) prayers in congregation, they would come to offer them even if they had to crawl."

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Volume 1, Book 11, Number 620:
Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle said, "The reward of the prayer offered by a person in congregation is twenty five times greater than that of the prayer offered in one's house or in the market (alone). And this is because if he performs ablution and does it perfectly and then proceeds to the mosque with the sole intention of praying, then for every step he takes towards the mosque, he is upgraded one degree in reward and his one sin is taken off (crossed out) from his accounts (of deeds). When he offers his prayer, the angels keep on asking Allah's Blessings and Allah's forgiveness for him as long as he is (staying) at his Musalla. They say, 'O Allah! Bestow Your blessings upon him, be Merciful and kind to him.' And one is regarded in prayer as long as one is waiting for the prayer."


Volume 1, Book 11, Number 621:
Narrated Abu Salama bin 'Abdur Rahman:

Abu Huraira said, "I heard Allah's Apostle saying, 'The reward of a prayer in congregation is twenty five times greater than that of a prayer offered by a person alone. The angels of the night and the angels of the day gather at the time of Fajr prayer.' " Abu Huraira then added, "Recite the Holy Book if you wish, for "Indeed, the recitation of the Qur'an in the early dawn (Fajr prayer) is ever witnessed." (17.18).


Volume 6, Book 60, Number 241:
Narrated Ibn Al-Musaiyab:

Abu Huraira said, "The Prophet said, 'A prayer performed in congregation is twenty-five times more superior in reward to a prayer performed by a single person. The angels of the night and the angels of the day are assembled at the time of the Fajr (Morning) prayer." Abu Huraira added, "If you wish, you can recite:-- 'Verily! The recitation of the Qur'an in the early dawn (Morning prayer) is ever witnessed (attended by the angels of the day and the night).' (17.78)

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Volume 1, Book 11, Number 623:
Narrated Abu Musa:

The Prophet said, "The people who get tremendous reward for the prayer are those who are farthest away (from the mosque) and then those who are next farthest and so on. Similarly one who waits to pray with the Imam has greater reward than one who prays and goes to bed. "

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Volume 2, Book 13, Number 23:
Narrated Ibn Umar:

One of the wives of Umar (bin Al-Khattab) used to offer the Fajr and the 'Isha' prayer in congregation in the Mosque. She was asked why she had come out for the prayer as she knew that Umar disliked it, and he has great ghaira (self-respect). She replied, "What prevents him from stopping me from this act?" The other replied, "The statement of Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) : 'Do not stop Allah's women-slave from going to Allah s Mosques' prevents him."

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'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud says: "If anyone would like to meet Allah tomorrow as a Muslim, he should persevere in abserving these five prayers whenever the call for them is made, for Allah has chosen for your Prophet the way of right guidance. And the [five prayers in congregation] are part of this right guidance. If you were to pray them in your houses, as this man who stays behind in his house, you would be leaving a sunnah of your Prophet. If you leave the sunnah of your Prophet, you would go astray. Verily, I have seen a time when no one stayed away from them [the congregational prayers] except for the hypocrites who were well known for their hypocrisy. A man would be brought, supported by two people [due to his weakness] until he was placed in a row." This is related by Muslim.

Abu ad-Darda' reports that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alehi wasallam said: "If there are three men in a village or desert and salah is not established among them, then the Satan takes mastery over them. So be with the congregation since the wolf devours the remote (stray) sheep." This is related by Abu Dawud with a hasan chain.

It is preferred for one to walk to the mosque with calm and dignity and not in a hurry or rushing. This is because the person is considered to be in prayer when he is going to the salah (and also while he is waiting for it). Abu Qatadah says: "We were praying with the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam when we heard the clamoring of some men. When they had prayed, the Prophet inquired: 'What was the matter with you?' They answered: 'We were hurrying for the salah.' He said: 'Do not do that...when you come to the salah come in peace and calm, and pray what you can with congregation and complete what you have missed.'" This is related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

wallahua,lam..

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Why should we worship Allah?

We must worship Allah for many reasons. In this section, we mention the most important of these reasons.

1) Allah is our true benefactor

Allah (swt) gave us all what we have. So, He is our only true Benefactor. We cannot list all of his favours on us. Allah (swt) says :
"And if you try to list Allah's favours, you will never be able to count them all." The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 14, Verse 34

Allah(swt) gave us eyes for seeing, ears for hearing, hearts for understanding, hands for holding, feet for walking, and many other favours within our bodies. He gave us parents, brothers, relatives, and friends to love. He gave us good food and drink, air to breathe, water to cool and clean us, animals and cars to ride, and many, many other things. All of these favours - all things that we enjoy and like, are created by Allah (swt) , as He says: "Any favour that you have is from Allah. And if you get into a hardship, you turn to Him crying for help." The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 16, Verse 53

We should be more thankful and grateful to Allah(swt). We should express our gratitude to him by words and actions. We should worship Him with complete love and obedience.

2) Allah has the supreme qualities

Allah is generous beyond limits. He gives without being afraid of losing what He has. Similarly, He is mighty beyond limits, wise beyond limits, merciful beyond limits, and so on. No one else has any of Allah's great qualities. When we understand Allah has the greatest qualities, we find ourselves forced to admire him with the greatest admiration, respect him with the greatest respect, obey him with the fullest obedience, and worship him with the truest worship. Allah(swt) alone deserves to be our God.

3) True Worship produces Taqwaa

Worshipping Allah brings Taqwaa into our hearts. Allah(swt) says:
"O people, worship your Lord who created you and those before you and those before you. With this, you may have Taqwaa". The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 2, Verse 21 Taqwaa is the most important treasure. It makes us always remember that Allah is watching us. It softens our hearts and souls. It makes us love doing good deeds and hate sinning. So, we need to worship Allah in order to have this great treasure.

4) Every Messenger called to worshipping Allah

Allah(swt) sent many Messengers through the time to guide the people. All of those messengers called to the same thing: Worshipping Allah alone. Allah(swt) says: "We have surely sent into every nation a messenger telling it, "Worship Allah and avoid false gods." The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 16, Verse 36

Allah(swt) also says:
"There is no messenger that we have sent before you but we have revealed to him, "There is no (true) God except me. So worship Me" The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 21, Verse 25

So, when we worship Allah we become attached to Allah's messenger and their true followers, and we feel that we are part of the good people who worshipped Allah through the times. We surely would want to worship Allah in order to be attached to those good people.

5) Worshipping Allah is good for us

By worshipping Allah, we should be doing ourselves the greatest favour. As we said earlier, Allah created us to worship Him. He ordered us to worship Him so as to follow the true guidance that He sent to us. If we follow this guidance, we will be happy in this life and the next.

wallahua'lam wa'ilmuhu atammu

Allah is the best goal

"Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet: women and sons; heaped-up hoards of gold and silver; horses branded (for blood and excellence); and (wealth of) cattle and well-tilled land. Such are the possessions of this world's life; but in nearness to Allah is the best of the goals (to return to)." Aal-e-Imran [3:14]

CHOOSING THE DESIRED WIFE

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Merciful,
the Hearer of supplications, and peace and blessings upon our
beloved and humble prophet Muhammad,and upon his family and
companions.

When marriage is spoken of during these "modern" times, Muslims
become horrified, conjuring images of an arranged marriage,
trying to find that "perfect" companion, how much of a financial
burden it will become, and so on. The reality is that Islam came
to solve these problems, not exacerbate them, yet unfortunately
we have integrated our local traditions and customs with Islam
so that marriage has become a major concern for a man rather
than a delightful experience.

When living in a free, perverted and corrupt Western society,
the Muslim male youth finds many temptations and tests, as a
result of mixing with females, which he must face and overcome.
He must constantly resist these temptations, which are thrown at
him in the streets, on the media, and at work. And so the
wisdom of the Prophet (s.a.w) echoes on, when he said: "O young
men, those among you who can support a wife should marry, for it
restrains the eyes from casting (evil glances), and preserves
one from immorality..."

When seriously considering marriage, you must pose the question
to yourself as to just what kind of wife you want, what her
qualities should be in order to establish an Islamic and
peaceful household, and how you will know who she is.

As Muslims, we believe that Allah wants the best for us, and
that His Prophet (s.a.w) illustrated this through his own life.
So note that by following the advise of our own Creator, and
that of His beloved servant, we can only be successful.


WHO TO MARRY


Islam is clear on the kind of wife you should be seeking. The
Prophet (s.a.w) said: "A woman may be married for four reasons:
for her property, her status, her beauty, and her religion; so
try to get one who is religious, may you be blessed." This
specifically defines just what kind of a companion we are
seeking, for if we marry her for anything other than her
religious piety, our marriage is bound to fall into misery.

True, beauty and charm is hard to resist, yet beauty does not
last forever and does not guarantee you her obedience and
religiousness. Financial status is dynamic, and so is worldly
status, yet religion strongly establishes a household, and it
may be that through your intention of marrying her for her
religion, the rest is given to you anyway. In another hadith,
the Prophet (s.a.w) said: "The whole world is a provision, and
the best object of benefit of the world is the pious woman."
Imagine! Nothing in this world is as valuable as a pious
woman! This point has been stressed many times by Rasulallah
(s.a.w), who himself, when asked what three things he loved the
most, mentioned a pious woman. Once the following ayah was
revealed: "They who hoard up gold and silver and do not spend it
in the way of Allah, unto them give tidings of a painful doom.
On that day when it will (all) be heated in the fire of
Jahannam, and their foreheads and flanks and their backs will be
branded therewith (and it will be said to them): 'Here is what
you hoarded for yourselves, now taste of what you used to hoard'
"[al-Taubah: 34-35]. Umar (r.a.a) has been quoted to say that,
when this ayah was revealed, he approached the Prophet (s.a.w),
submitting that the ayah weighed heavily on the minds of the
Sahaba. Rasulallah (s.a.w) replied that the best thing to be
treasured is the devoted wife who causes pleasure when seen,
obeys orders instantly and takes full care of herself and her
husbands property when he is away. Abu Bakr once asked
Rasulallah (s.a.w) what was the best thing to be treasured, and
he (s.a.w) replied: "the tongue in remembrance of Allah, the
heart filled with thanks to Allah, and a pious wife who helps in
virtuous deeds". Look at how valuable such a woman is in the
sight of Allah! How can a man live unhappily with such a
person.


QUALITIES OF THE PIOUS WOMAN


Alright, you say, you've convinced me, but what actually makes
her a pious woman? The answer is simple: Allah himself has
described those qualities most loved by Him in the Qur'an, and
in the ahadith there are numerous accounts of the virtuous
attributes of a pious woman.

The following are some ayahs on the attributes of the wife you
should be seeking, so note those fine and appreciative
qualities. The following are some ayahs on the attributes of
the wife you should be seeking, so note those fine and
appreciative qualities.

"And women of purity are for men of purity, and men of purity
are for women of purity"[s.24;v.26]

"Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard
in (the husbands) absence what Allah would have them
guard"[s.4;v.34]

"It may be, if he divorced you (all), that Allah will give him
in exchange consorts better than you, who submit (Muslims), who
believe, who are devout, who turn to Allah in repentance, who
worship (in humility), who travel (for faith) and
fast..."[s.66;v.5].

And then, in surah Ahzab, is a full list of those qualities
loved by Allah, qualities which by the way should be evident in
both males and females. So, my dear brother, choose her for the
following attributes:

-a Muslim woman

-a believing woman

-a devout woman

-a true woman

-a woman who is patient and constant

-a woman who humbles herself

-a woman who gives charity

-a woman who fasts and denies herself

-a woman who guards her chastity

-a woman who engages much in Allah's praise.

Among the four known perfect women was Maryam. She was loved by
Allah because of her religious qualities: "O Maryam! Worship
your Lord: prostrate yourself, and bow down (in prayer) with
those who bow down"[s.3;v.43]. Another was the wife of Pharaoh:
"And Allah sets forth, as an example to those who believe, the
wife of Pharaoh: behold she said: 'O my Lord, build for me, in
nearness to Thee, a mansion in the Garden' "[s.66;v.11].

The Prophet (s.a.w) loved his wives because of their religious
qualities. Aisha once related the fine qualities of Zainab:
"(Zainab) was the one who was somewhat equal in rank with me in
the eyes of Allah's Messenger (s.a.w), and I have never seen a
woman more advanced in religious piety than Zainab, more
God-conscious, more truthful, more alive to the ties of blood,
more generous and having more sense of self-sacrifice in
practical life and having more charitable disposition and thus
more closer to Allah, the Exalted, than her."

Ahh, you think, but you'll never find such a woman! Well, if
that was true, Allah would not have described her in the first
place, and furthermore those qualities were emanating from the
women described above. Islam deals with reality, not fiction.
Sure, the perfect woman doesn't exist, yet "if you take a
dislike to them, it may be that you dislike a thing, and Allah
brings about through it a great deal of good"[s.4;v.19].
Remember also that you are not perfect either.


KNOWING WHO SHE IS


To find that pious woman, there are two steps to be taken, and
that firstone relies on your personal observation. In surah
Nisaa, Allah asks the believing women that they should "lower
their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display
their beauty and ornaments," and also that they "should not
strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden
ornaments"[s.24;v.31]. If you notice a woman acting modestly,
being not too obvious through her actions (by lowering her voice
when around men), one who attempts to hide her attractions
(which includes her external beauty as well as her internal
charms), then you know she has some of those precious
qualities. When you see a woman unashamedly flirting,
unconcerned about her revealing clothes, and freely converses
with males- keep far, far away. I'm sure when you get married
you want your wife to devote her love to you, not to twenty
other "just good friends".

Through simple observation, you can get a glimpse of her nature;
for example, the way she stands when conversing, how she
maintains eye-contact, her clothes, where she spends her time
etc. Look for her strong points, and don't stress on her weak
ones.

Yet, after all this, we still have to come to the most important
topic. You can look all you want ather, set a private investigator
to track her movements, read her diaries (all of which I consider
extreme and unIslamic), yet, my dear brother, no-one knows her heart
and intentions, no-one knows whether she will turn sour or more
religious, or whether you are suitable for each other, except for Allah.


TRUST IN ALLAH


We are choosing our wife for her permanent values; namely her
religious devotions, moral integrity, character etc. But believe
me, if we try ourselves to combine a marriage, we are almost
sure to fail, because we have no knowledge.

Allah loves a servant when he puts his trust in Him. When we do
so, it is illustrating how we rely upon Him for help, and
proving our sincerity to Him, establishing that we recognise His
infinite knowledge and wisdom.

Islam is likened to being as a house, and in my estimation
nothing cements that house together as well as putting our trust
in Allah.

It is related on the authority of Jabir ibn 'Abdullah that the
Prophet (s.a.w) used to teach his companions to seek, through a
special du'a (known as an istikharah), the guidance of Allah in
all matters which affected them. Rasulallah (s.a.w) said: "When
you are confused about what you should do in a certain
situation, then pray two rak'at of nafl salaat and read the
following du'a (du'a of istikharah)."

I am surprised at the criticisms thrown at this du'a, and of its
negligence. We are humans, powerless in this sphere of life,
knowledgeable only enough to survive. So why shouldn't we turn
to Allah and seek His perfect help whenever we require it? Allah
responds to the call of His servant when he asks for guidance,
and we are after all seeking to do something in order to please
Him.

Many wrong notions exist concerning istikharah. Many Muslims
will pray, read the du'a, and run to bed expecting to see a
dream showing them their future wife, what her favourite colour
is, and some other weird fantasy. That is not the purpose of
this salaat.

The results of an istikharah can take many forms. Basically, you
go by your feelings, whether you now feel more favourable or
not. Also, you may notice events have changed, either for or
against you. Finally, as a wonderful gift from Allah, you may be
blessed with a dream. Note that you must follow the results of
an istikharah, because not doing so is tantamount to rejecting
Allah's guidance once you've asked for it. Also, you should
firstly clear your mind, not have your mind already decided,
and then afterwards follow the results willingly.

The Prophet (s.a.w) once sent Zainab a proposal of marriage.
She refused to accept the proposal straight away, expressing her
intention to refer the matter to Allah: "I do not do anything
until I solicit the will of my Lord." Allah, the Responsive,
answered her plea for help and revealed an ayah approving of
the marriage. We may seem shocked at her refusal to accept a
proposal from what is the best husband any woman can have, yet
she was just recognising that it is Allah who knows how
successful such a marriage will be, and as a sign of
appreciation, that reply is now preserved in our Holy Book: al
Qur'an.

The Prophet (s.a.w) once said to Aisha: "I saw you in a dream
for three nights when an angel brought you to me in a silk cloth
and he said: 'Here is your wife', and when I removed (the cloth)
from your face, lo, it was yourself, so I said: 'if this is from
Allah, let Him carry it out' ".

Marriage is a serious step, and requires the right attitude. If
marriage completes half our faith, shouldn't that half be the
best half? A woman married for the wrong reasons can only weaken
the Muslim household. Consider that she will be your life-long
companion, the rearer of your children. Don't marry her for her
worldly wealth, but for her wealth in Islamic wisdom and
knowledge. Her status in this life is but illusionary, so choose
her for her status in the sight of Allah. Beauty is but
superficial, but the beauty of Iman is transcendent.

When asking Allah for a wife, call upon Him by His beautiful
names, as He has commanded us: "For Allah are certain and
dignified names: therefore call upon Him by them"[s.7;v.189].
Ask for a companion who is devout, pious, patient and so on. Be
among those who say: "Our Lord, may our spouses and our
offspring be a joy to our eyes and make us leaders of the
righteous"[al-Furqan,74].

I cannot provide a better conclusion than saying that you must
put your trust in Allah. You must have trust in His concern for
us, and His ability to help us. Allah says: "Put your trust in
Allah, for Allah loves those who put their trust in
Him"[s.3;v.159].

May Allah help us in our sincere efforts in following His
commandments and the way of His beloved servant, and provide us
with wives whom He loves.

"When my servants ask you concerning Me, I am indeed close (to
them): I respond to the prayer of every supplicant when he calls
on Me: let them also, with a will, listen to my call, and
believe in Me: that they may walk in the right
way"[al-Baqarah,v.186].

tests from Allah

Allah(swt) has tested the people of the past in various ways and will keep on testing His creation. He has informed us about these tests in the Quran. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad(saw) also informed us that Allah(swt) will test us from time to time. Sometimes hardships and losses occur in life due to our sins.



To wash off these sins in this world, Allah(swt) inflicts upon us these hardships:

Narated By Aisha: Allah's Apostle said, "No calamity befalls a Muslim but that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it, even though it were the prick he receives from a thorn." (Sahih Bukhari Vol 7, Book 70, #544)

And again by a different narrator:

Narated By Abu Said Al-Khudri and Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that." (Sahih Bukhari Vol 7, Book 70, #545) Paying for sins in this world is much easier than paying in the Hereafter. It is a blessing in disguise which Allah(swt) bestows upon us and saves us from the payment of these sins in the Hereafter.

The Quran informs us what to do when we face these tests in our life and also tells us about the reward that we will receive if we are successful in dealing with the situation in the way we are expected to:

"Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere, Who say, when afflicted with calamity: "To Allah We belong, and to Him is our return":- They are those on whom (Descend) blessings from Allah, and Mercy, and they are the ones that receive guidance. [Quran 2:155-157]

We are to be patient during hard times and always remember that Allah(swt) is the Creator of everything and We all will return to Him. No deed is lost in front of Allah and we will be rewarded for even the minutest good that we ever did do. Trials afflicting us can be signs of His Love. It is narrated that Prophet Muhammad(saw) said:

Narated By Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "If Allah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials." (Sahih Bukhari Vol 7, Book 70, #548)

Misfortune can bring a person towards the right path. It can make better Muslims out of people. Observing patience, remembering Allah(swt) and turning only to Him for help and guidance during such times, will help us attain Allah's forgiveness and His rewards.

Allah(swt) tests man through various agencies, both through adversity and prosperity. A person with a luxurious life is tested to see how much he spends in the way of Allah(swt) and how much he is thankful to Allah(swt) for the blessings bestowed upon him. Another can be tested by the things he desires but does not and/or cannot possess. What do these people do is actually their test. Does the person deviate from the way of Allah(swt) to pursue the worldly gains?

Every soul shall have a taste of death: and We test you by evil and by good by way of trial. To Us must ye return. [Quran 21:35]

The Quran reminds us that in periods of hardships, we are to remain patient, remember Allah, and protect ourselves from committing that which is declared unlawful by Allah(swt):

Ye shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves; and ye shall certainly Hear much that will grieve you, from those who received the Book before you and from those who worship many gods. But if ye persevere patiently, and guard against evil,-then that will be a determining factor in all affairs. [Quran 3:186]

An important thing that we should always remember is that everyone is tested. If we declare that we are Muslims, that does not mean that we will not be tested in this world. The Quran is very clear on this issue:

Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, "We believe", and that they will not be tested?

One should not think or feel that he is the only unique person going through such times or that Allah(swt) is displeased with him. Every single person faces difficulties to the best of their capacity. Surely Allah is not unjust and does not over burden a soul:

On no soul doth Allah Place a burden greater than it can bear [Quran 2:286]

This world is an abode for tests and one should not deny or avoid these but should face them and pass them successfully. A person can be put into hardships for a number of reasons and we might not know those reasons when undergoing a certain loss but what we must do is always remember Allah(swt), be patient, abstain from what is unlawful, give charity and ask Him to help ease out our hard times. If we do fail to do this then we should turn to Allah(swt) and ask for forgiveness. Allah(swt) is Most Merciful and InshaAllah He will forgive us for the wrong that we do.

Monday, November 9, 2009

the success..Al-Quran & As-Sunnah

If we want to be successful, we must follow those who have been successful. In the Deen of Allah, all the prophets, Rasulullah s.a.w. and The Companions are those who are successful and Jannah is assured for them even when they are still in this world.

Legends and history is full of heroes. Even the movies from time to time produce heroes. Even our children can point them out to you from cartoons and animated stories. Well, Islam too has its fair share of heroes, but just how many of us are capable of pointing them out?

We may be able to identify the Prophet Muhammad, Abu Bakr, Umar, Othman and Ali and a few other Companions by name but how much do we really know about them? The answer is hardly much, and the reason for this is that we have not popularized these individuals – we are simply too busy with our worldly affairs.

The Qur’an provides us with countless examples of the Prophet’s status and position. For example Allah says, Say (O Muhammad): “If you love Allah then follow me, and Allah will love you and forgive your sins.” [Surah Ali ‘Imran 3:31].

The Qur’an explicitly declares that the Prophet (s.a.w.) was sent as a ‘mercy to creation’; that he was sent to both ‘jinn and mankind’. In fact he was sent to the whole of creation i.e. the vegetable kingdom, the animal kingdom etc, otherwise you will not come across incidences mentioned in Ahadith of trees, stones etc speaking to the Prophet (s.a.w.).

The honoured position of the Prophet (s.a.w.) is so great that even on the Day of Judgement all Prophets will seek His intercession (shafa’ah) with Allah. Even during his Ascension to the Heavens (Mik’raj) we find the Angel Gabriel (a.s.) unable to proceed beyond a certain point in time. In this respect the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “I have a time with Allah to which even Gabriel, who is pure spirit, is not admitted.” If the Prophet Moses (a.s.) had to be content with His glory cast upon a mountain face, well, the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) had the pleasure of coming within the presence of Allah. The Qur’an describes it as the ‘distance of two bow lengths’ which is indeed very close. [Surah Najm 53:9]. It is here (the Arsh) that Allah spoke to the Prophet (s.a.w.) directly without being seen.

Whether we realise it or not, or whether we are willing to accept it or not, but the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. remains relevant as a key is to a padlock, when you speak about the Qur’an or Islam. Allah is the goal and objective of existence but the path prescribed by Him lies through the example of His Messenger and Beloved, Muhammad s.a.w..

You cannot make it on your own by just believing in Allah or following the Qur’an. You have to follow in the footsteps of the one who was blessed with the duty of receiving revelation from Allah. Because only in this person who is both the receiver and guide, will you be guided rightly.

“And thus have We by Our command, sent inspiration to you (O Muhammad). You knew not what revelation was, and what faith was: but We have made the (Qur’an) a light, wherewith We guide such of Our servants as We will; and verily you do guide to the Straight Way – the Way of Allah.” [Surah Shura 42:52-53].

The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) is the object of our devotion simply because he is the beloved of our Lord. A sound Hadith related by Imam Ahmad and Hakim relate the following narration by Ubay bin Ka’ab: “I once asked the Prophet (s.a.w.), ‘O Messenger of Allah, I invoke much. What portion of that should be of prayer upon you?’ The Prophet (s.a.w.) replied, ‘However much you wish.’ To this I said, ‘A fourth?’ He replied, ‘If you wish, but should you increase that number, it will be better for you.’ I then asked, ‘A third?’ And he said, ‘If you wish, and if you increase it, it is still better for you.’ ‘A half?’ I asked. He replied, ‘If you wish, and if you do more, it is still better for you.’ I then said, ‘Indeed! Then I shall make all my prayers upon you!’ To this he responded, ‘If you do that, then you will be freed of anxiety and your wrongs pardoned!’”

The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “Do not reflect upon Allah but reflect on the blessings of Allah.” What greater blessings can a Muslim possess in the personality of the Prophet (s.a.w.). And if you think that you can manage this journey solely on your own then reflect upon the Prophet’s words when he said, “Your entry into paradise is not the result of your deeds but it is due to Allah’s mercy.” And that mercy comes in the form of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) who has been granted intercession for his community on the Day of Judgement.

Allah has revealed: “If anyone contends with the Messenger even after guidance has been plainly conveyed to him, and follows a path other than that becoming men of faith, We shall leave him in the path he has chosen, and land him in Hell – what an evil refuge!” [Surah Nisa 4:115].

Your devotions will not be accepted unless the name of His Beloved is uttered. And this is one of the reasons why we go through the formality of reciting praise on the Prophet at the end of any supplication. Many do so just to fulfil a requirement without truly realising the implication and significance of such.

The Qur’an provides us with an insight to the intimate relationship between Allah and His Messenger (s.a.w.). In Surah Ahzab 33:56 it has been revealed, “Allah and His Angels send blessings on the Prophet: O you who believe! Send you blessings on him, and salute him with all respect.”

In fact one could say that there is not a single creature or thing that does not honour the Prophet (s.a.w.). What is significant here is that Allah Himself and His Angels send blessings on the Prophet (s.a.w.). Why would He want to do this if He did not love the Prophet so much? Whereas with us, we are commanded to submit and surrender ourselves to Allah, thus, proving the need to draw close to the one (the Prophet) He loves most, so that we may enjoy His pleasure while submitting ourselves to Him. This is an established approached to worshipping Allah, where you worship none but Him, through a prescribed path revealed by Allah to Muhammad (s.a.w.), His Messenger and Beloved. Reflect upon this sincerely and you will find it truthful. However, do not exceed the limits of veneration towards the Prophet (s.a.w.) so as to make him equal or greater than Allah, this would be sinful.

The Prophet’s station (maqam) is such that compliance with his Sunnah (Practice) will see you together with him in Heaven. To this effect the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “O my son, the one who has cherished my Sunnah, without doubt he has cherished me, and he who cherishes me will be with me in Paradise ”.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

COPING WITH SEXUAL DESIRE

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, Bestower Of Mercy

Islam, being a complete and total way of life that is the most beneficial for all mankind, recognizes the natural built-in urges that occur in every healthy normal mature human being. For this reason we find, as usual, the best of guidance in the Qur'aan and the authentic sunnah for how to deal with sexual matters. The following article will provide a general outline on just what Islam prescribes in this important area of life.

It should first be mentioned that Islam encourages healthy and lawful sexual activity. Sex itself is neither a taboo subject nor a preoccupation. It has been dealt with at length and detail in nearly every aspect by scholars of Islam, not as a means of titillation, but in order to guide the ummah of Muhammad in this basic and vital area of life so they can live in a manner that Allah Most High is pleased with. Free and wanton sexual practices are proven unhealthy physically and psychologically and have a tremendous negative impact upon society whereas when people conduct themselves according to the divine guidelines set down by Islam, sexual behavior is both controlled and beneficial for individuals and society.

"Some scholars have concluded that the human being should pledge 1) To walk at least a minimum distance every day 2) To feed his stomach at regular intervals 3) Not to abstain from having lawful sexual intercourse..." [Zaad Al-Ma'ad]

We find that the following general points are advised for people from the Qur'aan and sunnah that afford the believer the means to control his or her self and properly channel their desires. Indeed, the major role of Islam is to provide human beings the means by which they can control themselves, develop in righteousness and fulfill their roles as slaves of Allah.

1.Remembrance of Allah (i.e. through reading and understanding the Qur'aan and Sunnah and seeking refuge in Allah from the whisperings of Shaitan and keeping Allah constantly in mind.
2.Fasting
3.Lowering the gaze
4.Marriage
5.Staying away from bad company
6.Staying away from places of temptation (fitnah)

The benefits of lawful sexual intercourse are that it protects one's eyes from looking at what is unlawful, it preserves one's chastity and helps to control one's desire and lust against what is unlawful and of course is the means through which society may flourish. Anas Ibn Malik (radiallahu 'anhu) said that "the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) use to command us to marry and forbid celibacy severely and say, 'Marry women who are very prolific and loving, for I shall outnumber the prophets by you on the Day of Resurrection.'" [Ahmed, Ibn Hibban, Abu Dawud, An-Nasaa'i]. Also Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Yet I pray and sleep; I fast and break my fast; and I marry women. He who desires other than my sunnah is not my follower". He (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) also said, "O young men, whoever among you has the means to establish a family, he should get married, for marriage preserves the chastity of one's eyes and sexual organ, and whoever cannot afford to establish a family, he must fast from desiring sex, for abstention in that case will protect him from sin." [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim]

Islam even provides guidance as to sexual conduct between spouses and one can read these details in the works of the scholars and in the hadeeth. Notable in this regard is the work of Ibn Qayyim Al-Jowiyyah (b. 1292 d. 1350 CE) who dealt with the subject in detail in his famous book Zaad Al-Ma'aad Fi Huda Khairil-'Ibaad. He deals with what is permissible, recommended and forbidden with regards to sexual conduct and every married Muslim as well as those about to be married should seek such knowledge.

Islam forbids sex outside the lawful marriage tie, and it strictly forbids homosexuality, bestiality and any other harmful or deviant practices. It also provides measures through its laws and ethics to prevent such sinful behavior along with appropriate punishment for those who do so. One of the major causes of sexual immorality today is the absence of limits in many so-called modern societies. This permissive attitude is propagated through the popular media, especially TV and films where prohibited sex is glamorized and encouraged.

Also books, songs and poetry encourage and stimulate the sexual urge among men and women to the point where they can no longer refrain from indulging in what Allah has made forbidden for them. Those who are responsible for the spread of these mediums among society and especially among Muslims have a heavy burden to bear upon their shoulders on the Day of Resurrection.

Constant exposure to the opposite sex or to whatever affords a person the opportunity to indulge in concentration upon them can lead to sexual obsession. Once a person is put in this position "...they will find themselves under constant, irresistible, and compelling influence to engage in sex." [Zaad Al-Ma'aad] Allah Himself refers to this when talking about women's erotic passion and in relation to the sexual inversion of the men engaged in homosexuality and pedophilia.

The first instance is that which is related in the story of Yusuf (alaihi salaam) and the uncontrollable desire of the wife of the Aziz for.

The second can be found in the story of the people of Lot ('alaihi salaam) who sought to satisfy their perverted lusts with the guests of Lot ('alaihi salaam) and ultimately Allah destroyed them. [See Al-Qur'aan Chapter 15]

Ibn Qayyim writes: "Fascination and attraction to physical forms, objects, pictures, statues, idols, books, portraitures, museums, images, arts, nature, beauty, scenery, or obsession and pride about one's own beauty or self sometimes develop into an abnormal excitability and is an illness that must be treated as such. These are creations, and fascination with the creation is a mask that obstructs one's recognition of his Creator. A heart that is filled with love for Allah will see life in this world from a different depth." How true ring such words in these times when films and magazines bombard our senses that our designed to make us focus on the "sexy" celebrity and that have the main theme of how one can make themselves sexually attractive!

We thank Allah Who has told us, "It is He who created you from a single being and out of that, He created its mate, so that he may enjoy the pleasure of living with her" [Al-Qur'aan 7:189] Allah has made the nature of mating congruity between man and woman based on love for they are of like nature and the core of peace and tranquility between them is love. Real satisfaction is not merely based on beauty, looks, intention, goal, will, character, or spiritual attainment, though such elements can help to bring about love, peace and tranquility.

The overemphasis in society on physical beauty and constant exposure or preoccupation with the opposite sex undermines the ability of people to apply wisdom, logic and sound reasoning to overcome desires. This is where the wisdom of keeping good company and staying away form the places of temptation (fitnah) is so crucial, for bad companions will surely do nothing but encourage the wrong behavior. The closest and constant companion for many is the television which is the worst of companions and a center of fitnah, not to mention actual supposed friends who are but shayateen in disguise who call to corruption and immorality by various means.

We must avoid both. Certainly places where men and women freely mix are a great cause of temptation. Take any college campus or even work environment in the west (or even in Muslim countries where adherence to hijaab and separation of the sexes is lax or non-existent) and you will naturally find a higher incidence of unlawful premarital and extramarital relations between the sexes. The same applies to situations where men and women have many opportunities to be alone together.

As Ibn Qayyim said with regards to being infatuated and giving the degree of love to others that belongs only to Allah : "...love for other than Allah is polytheism, and since Allah created one heart for each human being, the focus of such a heart should not be divided...we can say that love for other than Allah is wine for the spirit, and an intoxicant that can cloud one's clarity, and obscure one's real purpose. It inebriates the mind, impairs one's proper functions, occupies the heart from concentrating on the remembrance of Allah...occupying one's heart with attachment and love for someone else besides Allah breaks up one's devotion, for the heart naturally adores its beloved, and that is worship ('ibaadah)."

Allah is most Wise and the guidelines He has laid down regarding lowering the gaze, wearing hijaab, not being alone with the opposite sex who is not mahram and not coming near to zinaa (illicit sex) are all for our benefit in this life and the Hereafter and we ask Allah to guide us to adhere to that which He has taught us, and that He and His Prophet are the most beloved to us all Ameen.

References to Ibn Qayyim's words was taken from the book "Natural Healing With The Medicine Of The Prophet" Translation and Emendation by Muhammad Al-Akili, Pearl Publishing House

Lowering your gaze

Verily all praise and thanks is due to Allah, we thank and praise Him and we seek His aid and depend upon Him and we ask Him for forgiveness and seek refuge in Him from the evils of ourselves and the wickedness of our deeds. Whoever Allah guides there is no one who can lead him astray, and whoever Allah leads astray there is none who can guide him. I testify that there is nothing deserving of worship in truth except Allah Who is Alone and without any partner and I bear witness that Muhammad is the slave servant and final Prophet and Messenger of Allah. Verily the most truthful and correct speech is the Book of Allah and best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). The worst of all matters in religion are those newly invented matters and each invented matter is a forbidden innovation and every forbidden innovation is a straying and every straying is in the fire.

"If I were not a Muslim, I would have contracted AIDS" proclaimed my friend. "The ayats in Sura Nur about lowering our gazes doesn't affect me anymore," expressed another youth, talking about the intense temptations felt by today's young. Difficulty in lowering the gaze by both the young and old is readily perceived on the street, weddings, parties and even in the mosques. What has gone wrong? How can Muslims, called by Allah, our Creator, the model community, the custodians of Truth and the upholders of morality behave this way? Why are we adopting the attitudes and routes of the kuffar? How can we rectify ourselves? What follows is practical and straightforward advice that can work for us and set us free from Satan's stronghold, Inshaa Allah.

Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam), by way of warning and as a reminder said, "There is nothing left after I go more dangerous to men than the temptations of women." [Al-Bukhaari] Being optimistic, a ray of hope was also wisely provided during the Prophet's Last Sermon "There are two things I have left that if the Ummah holds on to they will never go astray the Book of Allah and my Sunnah." [Al-Haakim] When Allah created humans with all our desires and urges, he also revealed to us sufficient and complete guidance to properly channel these desires, both in the midst of Dar-ul-Kufr or Dar-ul-Islam. All we need to do is seek it, contemplate on it and pursue it. "This day I have perfected your deen for you, completed my favors upon you and chosen Islam as your deen." (Al-Maida 5:4)

We should realize the fact the great companions (radiallahu 'anhum) were human beings also. Biologically they were no different from us. They had desires and temptations but yet, they controlled themselves in the best of ways. We can do the same, in shaa Allah. To possess sensual passions is human, to control them is Muslim.

When confronted with an alluring situation like passing by the opposite sex on the street, office or school, Shaitan is constantly tempting us to glare at her/him with evil thoughts. Shaitan is probably excitedly saying, with a big smile, 'Yes, yes, yes!' when we steer into the bait he is setting. During these situations, we should immediately and consciously realize that when we give a second or following glance we are obeying Satan. "O you who believe, follow not the footsteps of the devil" (24:21). By immediately averting our gazes and disobeying Shaitan, we are giving him a "one-two" punch in the face, leaving him frustrated and accursed.

Shaitan rebelled and was expelled by Allah, so let's all rebel against Shaitan and expel him from our hearts. Shaitan intends to fight a war against Muslims, so let's gather our forces behind the Qur'aan and the Sunnah and defeat him. Remember that even if no human eye is watching us, the Ever-Watchful Allah is constantly monitoring the innermost regions of our hearts. Our eyes, limbs, tongue and private parts will be witnesses on the Day of Ressurection and not an atom's worth of deeds will remain unexamined. Our minds are conditioned to associate thoughts of stealing clothes from a store to being in handcuffs and hauled into a police van. Likewise, we should condition our minds to bring the verses of Surah An-Nur in front of our eyes during any tempting situations and imagine that Allah is speaking to us directly: "Say to the believing, men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty. O you believers! Turn you all together towards Allah that you may attain success" (24:30-31) If the Qur'aan contained only these two ayats, it would be enough to convince me that it is the book of Allah.

With practice, these associations and the remembrance of Allah during tempting situations will prevent us from getting stuck by devilish arrows. Successfully controlling our gazes also increases our avoidance of sinful situations. An Islamic idiom says, "Anything that leads to haram is haram in itself." To do a pious deed earns a reward; to avoid a sin earns a reward too.

One of the biggest culprits in this class is movies. In the name of entertainment, to please our peers and children and an excuse to do something together as a family, we astonishingly allow un-Islamic pictures and dialogues in front of our eyes and ears. Can we ever imagine (a'udhubillah) any sahaba renting the latest hit from Blockbuster Video, or listening to music with alluring lyrics at high volume?

Likewise we watch news on TV and stare at the anchor women, adorned in heavy make-up, scanty clothing and seductive smile. Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam), was once approached by a woman with a proposal for marriage. He took a single glance at her face and turned his face away. Jabir bin Abdullah (radiallahu 'anhu) reported: I asked Allah's messenger about the sudden glance on the face of a non-mahram. He commanded me that I should turn away my eyes. (Muslim) Thus, we are not supposed to stare at faces of non-mahram females, be they are our fellow students, our elders, saleswomen or someone on TV. In our wedding ceremonies and parties and even in many Islamic fundraising dinners, there is heavy free-mixing between brothers and sisters. Often the chairs of males and females are arranged facing each other, knowing that about ninety percent of our sisters do not wear hijab. It is often noticeable to see males and females peeking glances at each other from the opposite ends of the hall. A big curtain is not my intention, but a big iman and befitting Islamic manners is.

The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Verily a woman who is perfumed and passes by men and they smell her scent, is called a zaaniyah (fornicatress or adultress) in the heavens" [Ahmed and others with a hasan isnaad, Saheeh Al-Jaami' 2701]. Compare this with our sisters who clad themselves with expensive perfume, one kilogram of makeup, and then come to mixed gatherings. Will this not attract the attention of males? Let's be real. We have lowered our moral guards so low that a humble word of truth often seems so awfully strange. Let us contemplate the above humble advice and constantly make the supplication, "O Allah help us control our sensual desires until we get married, and even after we marry, let our desires be only towards our spous

here's a link of a beautiful speech about the marriage in Islam by Maulana Sulaiman Khaani :
http://www.islamibayanaat.com/MaulanaAhmedSulemanKhatani/Wedding%20Functions%20-%20MaulanaAhmedSulemanKhatani.mp3