Reference: Rawdat al `Uqalaa: P. 49
Category: Sayings of the Salaf
Muhammad ibnul Hussain ibn Qutaybah in 'Asqalaan informed me that Ibraheem al Hawraani…on the authority of Sahl who said that the Messenger of Allaah said:
'There is no good in a companion who does not observe the same rights towards you that you observe towards him.'
Abu Haatim, may Allaah be pleased with him, said:
It is compulsory for an intelligent individual who was blessed by Allaah to have love for a Muslim, to stay close/cling on to him. He should accustom himself to stay in contact with him if he cuts him off, to turn towards him if he turns away, to give him if he withholds, to draw close to him if he distances himself, to the point that he is like a pillar in his life. It is from the greatest of faults for a person to be two faced in his affection.
Al Muntasir ibn Bilaal al Ansaaree recited (this poem) to me:
How many a friend displays affection with his tongue,
but is deceitful in my absence and is not regretful.
He unwillingly amuses me so I may love him,
but his words in my absence strike me like arrows.
...
Abu Haatim said:
The intelligent individual is not deficient in his affection, he does not have two faces or two hearts. Rather, what he conceals is identical to what he reveals, his actions are in accordance to his speech. There is no good in two companions where deficiency grows between them, and their state increases in corruption, as 'Abdul 'Azeez ibn Sulaimaan al Abrash recited to me:
May Allaah revile one whom having affection towards is of no use,
and one whose rope/aid is feeble, when extended.
And one who is of two colors [two-faced], he is not consistent,
upon keeping ties, a betrayer of everyone trustworthy.
And one who has two hearts, getting together with him,
is enjoyable, but when absent he is untrustworthy.
And one whom if his eyes were to speak,
the paths of all companionships would be cut off by them.
...
'Amru ibn Muhammad an Nasaa-ee recited to me:
The eye reveals what is within the soul,
of hatred or love if present.
Indeed one who harbors hatred has an eye [look] which is apparent,
unable to conceal by it what lies within his heart.
The eye speaks even though the mouth moves not,
to the point where you would see clearly what lies in the heart.
...
'Alee ibn Muhammad al Basaamee recited to me:
A neighbor that you keep visiting,
Qawraas you do not sleep or let sleep.
Close to home, distant in affection
, it refuses to be consistent.
He rushes to extend the Salaam when we meet,
but underneath his ribs lies a diseased heart.
...
I heard Muhammad ibn al Mundhir say: I heard 'Abdul 'Azeez ibn 'Abdilaah say: Muhammad ibn Haazim said:
There are brothers who are always displaying smiles,
and brothers: 'Hayaak Allaah' and 'Marhaba (welcome)'.
And brothers: 'How are you and how's your family.',
but all this does not hold the weight of a grain of sand.
Extremely generous when you are not in need of his wealth,
he says i can loan you if you need of a load.
But if you tried to reach what is behind him,
you would find that his wealth is further from you than you thought.
...
Abu Haatim, may Allaah be pleased with him, said:
The intelligent one does not befriend one who is two-faced, or one who has two hearts. He does not reveal anymore affection that what he conceals, and he does not conceal any less love than what he reveals. He should not be, when the need arises, any different than he were before it arose or before getting involved, because friendships that are unlike this are not praiseworthy. A man from Khuzaa'ah recited to Muhammad ibn Khalaf at Taymee, who recited to Muhammad ibnul Mundhir, who recited to me:
My brother is not the one who shows his love for me verbally,
but by brother is he who shows love for me during hardships.
He whose wealth is mine if I had none,
as my wealth is his if he were in need
So do not praise a friend during times of ease,
for he may forfeit his friendship during hardships.
He is only: 'How are you', and 'welcome.
but with his wealth is as evasive as a fox
...
Abu Haatim, may Allaah be pleased with him, said:
From the greatest of signs in knowing a persons affection...
Wednesday 21 May 2008
Sunday 18 May 2008
Calamities and disasters are a test, and they are a sign of Allaah's love for a person, because they are like medicine: even though it is bitter, despite its bitterness you give it to the one whom you love â€" and for Allaah is the highest description. In the saheeh hadeeth it says: "The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allaah loves a people He tests them. Whoever accepts that wins His pleasure but whoever is discontent with that earns His wrath." Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2396) and Ibn Maajah (4031); classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.
Calamities are good for the believer in the sense that reward is stored up for him the Hereafter thereby; how can it be otherwise when he is raised in status thereby and his bad deeds are expiated? The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "When Allaah wills good for His slave, He hastens the punishment for him in this world, and when Allaah wills ill for His slave, he withholds the punishment for his sins from him until he comes with all his sins on the Day of Resurrection." Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2396); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.
Al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: "Do not resent the calamities that come and the disasters that occur, for perhaps in something that you dislike will be your salvation, and perhaps in something that you prefer will be your doom."
Al-Fadl ibn Sahl said: "There is a blessing in calamity that the wise man should not ignore, for it erases sins, gives one the opportunity to attain the reward for patience, dispels negligence, reminds one of blessings at the time of health, calls one to repent and encourages one to give charity.
Through calamity the believer seeks reward, and there is no way to attain it but patience, and there is no way to be patient except with resolute faith and strong will.
Remember the words of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): "How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him." (Narrated by Muslim, 2999).
So if calamity befalls a Muslim, he must say Inna Lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji'oon (Verily to Allah we belong and unto Him is our return), and say the du'aa's that have been narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
How wonderful are those moments in which a person turns to his Lord and knows that He alone is the One Who grants relief from distress. How great is the relief when it comes after hardship. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"but give glad tidings to Asâ€` Saabiroon (the patient).
156. Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: 'Truly, to Allaah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.'
157. They are those on whom are the Salawaat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones"
[al-Baqarah 2:155-157]
Calamities are good for the believer in the sense that reward is stored up for him the Hereafter thereby; how can it be otherwise when he is raised in status thereby and his bad deeds are expiated? The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "When Allaah wills good for His slave, He hastens the punishment for him in this world, and when Allaah wills ill for His slave, he withholds the punishment for his sins from him until he comes with all his sins on the Day of Resurrection." Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2396); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.
Al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: "Do not resent the calamities that come and the disasters that occur, for perhaps in something that you dislike will be your salvation, and perhaps in something that you prefer will be your doom."
Al-Fadl ibn Sahl said: "There is a blessing in calamity that the wise man should not ignore, for it erases sins, gives one the opportunity to attain the reward for patience, dispels negligence, reminds one of blessings at the time of health, calls one to repent and encourages one to give charity.
Through calamity the believer seeks reward, and there is no way to attain it but patience, and there is no way to be patient except with resolute faith and strong will.
Remember the words of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): "How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him." (Narrated by Muslim, 2999).
So if calamity befalls a Muslim, he must say Inna Lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji'oon (Verily to Allah we belong and unto Him is our return), and say the du'aa's that have been narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
How wonderful are those moments in which a person turns to his Lord and knows that He alone is the One Who grants relief from distress. How great is the relief when it comes after hardship. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"but give glad tidings to Asâ€` Saabiroon (the patient).
156. Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: 'Truly, to Allaah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.'
157. They are those on whom are the Salawaat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones"
[al-Baqarah 2:155-157]
Saturday 17 May 2008
Advice to the Strangers (Within Islâm)
Abdul-Wahid bin Abdullaah al-Muhaidib
Wasiyyatu Ghareeb
Verily allpraise belongs to Allâh, we praise Him, seek His Aid and HisForgiveness. Whomsoever Allâh guides there is none to misguide andwhomsoever Allâh misguides there is none to guide. I testify that thereis none deserving of worship except Allâh alone without any partnersand I testify that Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam is Hisservant and His Messenger.
Allâh the Exalted said in His Mighty Book:
Knowthat the life of this world is nothing but play and amusement, glitter,mutual boasting and rivalry amongst yourselves in (the accumulation of)wealth and children. Just like the example of the rain and the growthit brings which brings delight to the tillers. Then it withers and yousee it become yellow. Then it dries and crumbles away. But in thehereafter there is an intense punishment as well as forgiveness fromAllâh and His good pleasure. And this life is nothing but a deceivingentertainment. Be foremost in seeking forgiveness from your Lord and agarden whose width is as the width of the heavens and the earth,prepared for those who believe in Allâh and His Messengers. That is thebounty of Allâh and He gives His bounty to whomsoever He pleases, andAllâh is the Possessor of great bounty and grace.
My brother andsister for the sake of Allâh, in compliance with what Allâh the Exaltedhas enjoined upon the Muslim regarding the giving of advice to hisMuslim brothers and sisters, I present this advice to you. PerhapsAllâh will bring about benefit on account of it.
Jareer ibn Abdullaah radiallaahu 'anhu said: Wegave the pledge of allegiance to the Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu'alayhi wa sallam for establishing prayer, giving the zakah and givingadvice to every Muslim.
My brother and sister for the sake of Allâh, this is advice to astranger which I present to you (as a gift) that you may be amongst thestrangers.
Thestrangers who do not see themselves needless of this advice whichcontains an increase (in goodness) for you in this life. It isextremely important due to the benefits it contains, which makes aperson strive and run towards the home of the hereafter with all hiseffort.
Therefore, be eager in reading repetitively, seeking to understandit and let your concern become knowledge. acting upon this knowledgeout of sincerity and following the Prophet of the strangers. Convey italso to others so that you succeed with Toobaa (a tree in Paradise).
The Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: 'Verily, Islâm began as a stranger and shall return as a stranger as it began, so Toobaa (is) for the strangers.'
The Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam also said to Abdullaah bin Umar:
'Be in this world as if you are a stranger or a traveller in his path.'
The stranger is the one who clings to what al-Mustafaa sallallaahu'alayhi wa sallam was upon in terms of belief, worship, manners andlegislation by whatever had Allâh has ordered and who then remainspatient upon that. The Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallamsaid:
'There will be after you days which willrequire (much) patience from the one who clings firmly (to thereligion). There will be (for the one who clings to the religion) thereward equal to fifty of you in those days.'
They said: Or do you mean fifty amongst them? He said:
'No. From amongst you.'
This is what the Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said my dear brother and sister.
Know - my brother and sister - that I do not desire anything fromyou and yet do you have power over anything. I desire only the face ofAllâh the Exalted so that He may be pleased with the stranger.
Thesestrangers who have been praised and who are fortunate and enviable havebeen so called due to their scarcity amongst mankind. The majority ofmankind have not been described with such characteristics.
The people of Islâm are strangers amongst mankind, then the peopleof Eemaan are strangers amongst the people of Islâm, then the people ofknowledge are strangers amongst the people of Eemaan, then the peoplesticking to the Sunnah, those who take care to distinguish it fromdesires and innovations, are strangers, then those who call to it whilebeing patient in face of the harms caused by those who turn away arethe most strange.
However they are the people of Allâh in truth. There isno strangeness between them but the strangeness is in the midst of themajority of mankind about whom Allâh said:
And if you were to follow most of those upon the earth they would mislead you from the path of Allâh.
These people are strangers from Allâh, His Messenger and His religion. Their strangeness is one of desertion.
Amongstthe characteristics of the strangers, the strangers with which theProphet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam was pleased with, is clinging tothe Sunnah when the rest of people aspire for something other than it,abandoning what others have invented and innovated, even if it wasconsidered something good by them, manifesting Tawheed even thought therest of mankind pay no heed to it and refuse it and abandoning theattachment to anyone besides Allâh the Exalted, the Messengersallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, his Companions radiallaahu 'anhum andthe Pious Predecessors rahmatullaah 'alayhi 'anhum. These are thestrangers who attach themselves to Allâh by enslavement to Him aloneand to the Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam by following andimitating him alone in regard to whatever he came with. These are theones who cling onto the burning embers in truth.
The true Islâm is very strange and its real adherents are the moststrange of people amongst mankind. And how can one single and minutegroup not be strange amongst seventy-two groups. Seventy-two groupsconsisting of followers, leaders, possessors of rank (amongstthemselves) and all sorts of loyalties and friendships amongstthemselves. Their movement cannot be maintained except by opposing whatthe Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam came with. Theessence of what he sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam came with opposes andcontradicts their desires, tastes, whims, doubts, innovations and falseways and means and all in all of this lies their actions, their meritsand their desires which make up their goals and intentions.
How can a believer who is pure inwardly and outwardly in hisspeech, his actions, his food, his drink, who emigrates to Allâh in allmoments in his life, while imitating and following (without inventingand innovating) not be a stranger amongst these people. These peoplewho have followed their desires, who have obeyed their covetousness,and who become amazed with their own opinions.
When the believer desires that which Allâh has alreadysustained him with: an insight into his religion, understanding of theSunnah of His Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, understanding ofHis Book, showing him the desires, innovations and misguidances whichpeople are upon, the people whom the Straight Path which the Messengersallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam and his companions were upon has causedto deviate - when the believer desires to travel upon this StraightPath, let him prepare himself (mentally) for the criticism, censure andrebuke of the ignorant and the people of innovation, for theirslanders, their contempt, from seeing people running away from him andfrom seeing them warn others about him just like their predecessorsfrom amongst the disbelievers used to do with the his imaam and the onewhom he follows sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam.
Therefore he is a stranger in his religion due to the corruption oftheir religion. He is a stranger in clinging to the Sunnah due to theirclinging to the ways of innovation, he is a stranger in his belief dueto the falsity and corruption of their belief, he is a stranger in hisprayer due to the deficiency in their prayer, he is a stranger in hispath due to the misguidance and corruption of their paths, he is astranger amongst his relatives due to their turning away from him, heis a stranger in living with them because he will not live with whattheir souls desire.
In essence he is a stranger in the matters of the world and thehereafter. He will find from the common people neither happiness norone who would offer him help. He is a scholar amidst ignorant, a personof the Sunnah amidst people of innovation, a caller to Allâh and HisMessenger amidst callers to desires and innovations, a commander ofgood and forbidder of evil amidst a people commanding evil andforbidding good.
Then:
All of mankind are strangers in this world. Thereis no position for them in this world and neither is this the home forwhich they were created. The Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallamsaid to Abdullaah ibn Umar radiallaahu 'anhu:
'Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveller in his path.'
Thus(mankind) has been commanded to look into this matter with his heartand o truly acquaint himself with it. How can a servant not be astranger in his life while he is on a journey and when he will not comeoff his riding beast until he is amongst the inhabitants of the graves?Therefore he is a traveller who is actually seated. It has been said:
The days are but stages (in a journey)
By which the caller to death approaches in a short and smooth journey
And the most amazing thing - if you were to reflect - is that
The stages pass quickly while the traveller remains seated
It hasbeen mentioned that a group of righteous people were sitting andamongst them was a person of Eemaan. He desired to make them hold theworld in contempt and and bring to mind the hereafter. What did he do?He took a leaf and placed something insignificant into it. He took thisthing and began to go round showing it to all of them. Every time oneof them looked at the leaf he did so with surprise and began to laughat it yet they did not understand its significance.
Then he said: This small and contemptible thing which I showedyou is a dirty wing of a fly and this world with all its people,possessions, desires, rivers, lands, days and nights is morecontemptible and insignificant to Allâh than this filthy wing.
Those righteous people who were in the gathering said: Afterthat we recovered from our heedlessness and felt a strong blow to theheart which shook our souls and we realised that his intent was toremind us of the hadeeth of the Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu 'alayhiwa sallam:
'If this world was equal (in value) to thewing of a fly in the sight of Allâh He would never have given a sip ofwater to the disbeliever,'
So my brother and sister,when we belittle the wing of a fly - in fact the fly itself - and wedislike it because it is worthless then it is more befitting that we donot become over-concerned with this world since it is moreinsignificant and contemptible to Allâh than the wing of a dirty fly.
Let us then put this world under the various powers andcontrols we have over it so that we can make it as a field that isbeing cultivated for the hereafter.
My brother and sister in Islâm, the speech of Allâh is our methodologyin this very short span of time in which we live. Allâh Azzwajall says:
Thereis no good in most of their secret conversations except the one whocommands charity or a good deed or conciliation between men. Andwhoever does that while seeking the pleasure of Allâh We shall soongive to him a great reward
Remember well - O brother and sister muslim - the speech of Allâh the Exalted:
Never does he utter a word except there is (an angel) ready to record it
Thereforeit is essential - my brother and sister - that you make your tongue,your eyes and the whole of your life poised for Allâh the Sublime. Makeyour tongue busy in His remembrance, giving advice, commanding good andforbidding the evil. Make your tongue as if it is paralysed at theplaces of backbiting, slander, cursing, mocking and singing.
Turn your vision constantly to acts of goodness such asreciting the Qur'ân, reading beneficial books or towards a matter whichis very important in achieving the desired goal: To look at the mightand grandeur of the heaven and the earth and all the various types ofcreations contained therein such as the sun, the moon, the animals, themountains, the seas, the clouds and men and how Allâh the Mighty theSublime and Exalted created all these wonderful things. Do this atlength and think deeply and profoundly at the absolute might of Allâh.
Withhold your eyesight from everything which Allâh has forbidden, suchas looking at women and other such trials, looking at things whichcontain no benefit. If you do this Allâh will give you three qualities:The sweetness of Eemaan, khushoo' in your heart and keen insight.
If however you fall into that then seek forgiveness from Allâhwith your heart and your tongue and follow this slip with a good deedyou will find Allâh Oft-Forgiving and Merciful.
Guard thesupplication which is to be uttered upon leaving a gathering and whichserves as an expiation for it: Glory be to you O Allâh and by YourPraise, I testify that there is none worthy of worship except You(alone), I seek forgiveness from you and repent to You.
My brother and sister for the sake of Allâh, it is essential foryou to increase in actions of goodness in every place and at everytime. Do not hold any action in contempt whether it is small or large,as long as it is an action of good and by the permission of Allâh - mybrother and sister - you will never become tired of performing theseactions so long as you drink from the delicious fountain which willincrease your love for such actions. That is the fountain of Ikhlaas(sincerity) and Ihtisaab (seeking or expectation of reward) from Allâhthe Subime and Exalted.
Beware of every matter which brings you closer to the Hellfire and runtowards every matter which will steer and direct you to the gates ofParadise by the Mercy of Allâh and His Favour.
Itis also essential for you - my brother and sister - to set right and tomake up for whatever has passed you by in your life: hours, days,weeks, months and Ramadans, the excellence of which people are heedlessof. The blessed month of Ramadan in which there is great bounty. Ifonly they knew that whoever found Lailatul-Qadr in this blessed monthwill have his supplication answered. He will be (after having passed itwhile engaged in prayer, repentance, and forgiveness) from among thebest of Allâh's righteous servants. His heart will become attached toAllâh and will find find comfort in with Him when he is alone.
He will also know that this world is a deception and that there isno pleasure, delight, ease or happiness except by obedience to Allâhand following the Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam inall of his affairs.
His heart will become attached to Allâh and he will soon loverighteousness and its performers and be very eager for it. He will alsohate evil and those who fall into it and be eager in distancing himselffrom it….
Wasiyyatu Ghareeb
Verily allpraise belongs to Allâh, we praise Him, seek His Aid and HisForgiveness. Whomsoever Allâh guides there is none to misguide andwhomsoever Allâh misguides there is none to guide. I testify that thereis none deserving of worship except Allâh alone without any partnersand I testify that Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam is Hisservant and His Messenger.
Allâh the Exalted said in His Mighty Book:
Knowthat the life of this world is nothing but play and amusement, glitter,mutual boasting and rivalry amongst yourselves in (the accumulation of)wealth and children. Just like the example of the rain and the growthit brings which brings delight to the tillers. Then it withers and yousee it become yellow. Then it dries and crumbles away. But in thehereafter there is an intense punishment as well as forgiveness fromAllâh and His good pleasure. And this life is nothing but a deceivingentertainment. Be foremost in seeking forgiveness from your Lord and agarden whose width is as the width of the heavens and the earth,prepared for those who believe in Allâh and His Messengers. That is thebounty of Allâh and He gives His bounty to whomsoever He pleases, andAllâh is the Possessor of great bounty and grace.
My brother andsister for the sake of Allâh, in compliance with what Allâh the Exaltedhas enjoined upon the Muslim regarding the giving of advice to hisMuslim brothers and sisters, I present this advice to you. PerhapsAllâh will bring about benefit on account of it.
Jareer ibn Abdullaah radiallaahu 'anhu said: Wegave the pledge of allegiance to the Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu'alayhi wa sallam for establishing prayer, giving the zakah and givingadvice to every Muslim.
My brother and sister for the sake of Allâh, this is advice to astranger which I present to you (as a gift) that you may be amongst thestrangers.
Thestrangers who do not see themselves needless of this advice whichcontains an increase (in goodness) for you in this life. It isextremely important due to the benefits it contains, which makes aperson strive and run towards the home of the hereafter with all hiseffort.
Therefore, be eager in reading repetitively, seeking to understandit and let your concern become knowledge. acting upon this knowledgeout of sincerity and following the Prophet of the strangers. Convey italso to others so that you succeed with Toobaa (a tree in Paradise).
The Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: 'Verily, Islâm began as a stranger and shall return as a stranger as it began, so Toobaa (is) for the strangers.'
The Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam also said to Abdullaah bin Umar:
'Be in this world as if you are a stranger or a traveller in his path.'
The stranger is the one who clings to what al-Mustafaa sallallaahu'alayhi wa sallam was upon in terms of belief, worship, manners andlegislation by whatever had Allâh has ordered and who then remainspatient upon that. The Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallamsaid:
'There will be after you days which willrequire (much) patience from the one who clings firmly (to thereligion). There will be (for the one who clings to the religion) thereward equal to fifty of you in those days.'
They said: Or do you mean fifty amongst them? He said:
'No. From amongst you.'
This is what the Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said my dear brother and sister.
Know - my brother and sister - that I do not desire anything fromyou and yet do you have power over anything. I desire only the face ofAllâh the Exalted so that He may be pleased with the stranger.
Thesestrangers who have been praised and who are fortunate and enviable havebeen so called due to their scarcity amongst mankind. The majority ofmankind have not been described with such characteristics.
The people of Islâm are strangers amongst mankind, then the peopleof Eemaan are strangers amongst the people of Islâm, then the people ofknowledge are strangers amongst the people of Eemaan, then the peoplesticking to the Sunnah, those who take care to distinguish it fromdesires and innovations, are strangers, then those who call to it whilebeing patient in face of the harms caused by those who turn away arethe most strange.
However they are the people of Allâh in truth. There isno strangeness between them but the strangeness is in the midst of themajority of mankind about whom Allâh said:
And if you were to follow most of those upon the earth they would mislead you from the path of Allâh.
These people are strangers from Allâh, His Messenger and His religion. Their strangeness is one of desertion.
Amongstthe characteristics of the strangers, the strangers with which theProphet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam was pleased with, is clinging tothe Sunnah when the rest of people aspire for something other than it,abandoning what others have invented and innovated, even if it wasconsidered something good by them, manifesting Tawheed even thought therest of mankind pay no heed to it and refuse it and abandoning theattachment to anyone besides Allâh the Exalted, the Messengersallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, his Companions radiallaahu 'anhum andthe Pious Predecessors rahmatullaah 'alayhi 'anhum. These are thestrangers who attach themselves to Allâh by enslavement to Him aloneand to the Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam by following andimitating him alone in regard to whatever he came with. These are theones who cling onto the burning embers in truth.
The true Islâm is very strange and its real adherents are the moststrange of people amongst mankind. And how can one single and minutegroup not be strange amongst seventy-two groups. Seventy-two groupsconsisting of followers, leaders, possessors of rank (amongstthemselves) and all sorts of loyalties and friendships amongstthemselves. Their movement cannot be maintained except by opposing whatthe Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam came with. Theessence of what he sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam came with opposes andcontradicts their desires, tastes, whims, doubts, innovations and falseways and means and all in all of this lies their actions, their meritsand their desires which make up their goals and intentions.
How can a believer who is pure inwardly and outwardly in hisspeech, his actions, his food, his drink, who emigrates to Allâh in allmoments in his life, while imitating and following (without inventingand innovating) not be a stranger amongst these people. These peoplewho have followed their desires, who have obeyed their covetousness,and who become amazed with their own opinions.
When the believer desires that which Allâh has alreadysustained him with: an insight into his religion, understanding of theSunnah of His Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, understanding ofHis Book, showing him the desires, innovations and misguidances whichpeople are upon, the people whom the Straight Path which the Messengersallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam and his companions were upon has causedto deviate - when the believer desires to travel upon this StraightPath, let him prepare himself (mentally) for the criticism, censure andrebuke of the ignorant and the people of innovation, for theirslanders, their contempt, from seeing people running away from him andfrom seeing them warn others about him just like their predecessorsfrom amongst the disbelievers used to do with the his imaam and the onewhom he follows sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam.
Therefore he is a stranger in his religion due to the corruption oftheir religion. He is a stranger in clinging to the Sunnah due to theirclinging to the ways of innovation, he is a stranger in his belief dueto the falsity and corruption of their belief, he is a stranger in hisprayer due to the deficiency in their prayer, he is a stranger in hispath due to the misguidance and corruption of their paths, he is astranger amongst his relatives due to their turning away from him, heis a stranger in living with them because he will not live with whattheir souls desire.
In essence he is a stranger in the matters of the world and thehereafter. He will find from the common people neither happiness norone who would offer him help. He is a scholar amidst ignorant, a personof the Sunnah amidst people of innovation, a caller to Allâh and HisMessenger amidst callers to desires and innovations, a commander ofgood and forbidder of evil amidst a people commanding evil andforbidding good.
Then:
All of mankind are strangers in this world. Thereis no position for them in this world and neither is this the home forwhich they were created. The Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallamsaid to Abdullaah ibn Umar radiallaahu 'anhu:
'Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveller in his path.'
Thus(mankind) has been commanded to look into this matter with his heartand o truly acquaint himself with it. How can a servant not be astranger in his life while he is on a journey and when he will not comeoff his riding beast until he is amongst the inhabitants of the graves?Therefore he is a traveller who is actually seated. It has been said:
The days are but stages (in a journey)
By which the caller to death approaches in a short and smooth journey
And the most amazing thing - if you were to reflect - is that
The stages pass quickly while the traveller remains seated
It hasbeen mentioned that a group of righteous people were sitting andamongst them was a person of Eemaan. He desired to make them hold theworld in contempt and and bring to mind the hereafter. What did he do?He took a leaf and placed something insignificant into it. He took thisthing and began to go round showing it to all of them. Every time oneof them looked at the leaf he did so with surprise and began to laughat it yet they did not understand its significance.
Then he said: This small and contemptible thing which I showedyou is a dirty wing of a fly and this world with all its people,possessions, desires, rivers, lands, days and nights is morecontemptible and insignificant to Allâh than this filthy wing.
Those righteous people who were in the gathering said: Afterthat we recovered from our heedlessness and felt a strong blow to theheart which shook our souls and we realised that his intent was toremind us of the hadeeth of the Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu 'alayhiwa sallam:
'If this world was equal (in value) to thewing of a fly in the sight of Allâh He would never have given a sip ofwater to the disbeliever,'
So my brother and sister,when we belittle the wing of a fly - in fact the fly itself - and wedislike it because it is worthless then it is more befitting that we donot become over-concerned with this world since it is moreinsignificant and contemptible to Allâh than the wing of a dirty fly.
Let us then put this world under the various powers andcontrols we have over it so that we can make it as a field that isbeing cultivated for the hereafter.
My brother and sister in Islâm, the speech of Allâh is our methodologyin this very short span of time in which we live. Allâh Azzwajall says:
Thereis no good in most of their secret conversations except the one whocommands charity or a good deed or conciliation between men. Andwhoever does that while seeking the pleasure of Allâh We shall soongive to him a great reward
Remember well - O brother and sister muslim - the speech of Allâh the Exalted:
Never does he utter a word except there is (an angel) ready to record it
Thereforeit is essential - my brother and sister - that you make your tongue,your eyes and the whole of your life poised for Allâh the Sublime. Makeyour tongue busy in His remembrance, giving advice, commanding good andforbidding the evil. Make your tongue as if it is paralysed at theplaces of backbiting, slander, cursing, mocking and singing.
Turn your vision constantly to acts of goodness such asreciting the Qur'ân, reading beneficial books or towards a matter whichis very important in achieving the desired goal: To look at the mightand grandeur of the heaven and the earth and all the various types ofcreations contained therein such as the sun, the moon, the animals, themountains, the seas, the clouds and men and how Allâh the Mighty theSublime and Exalted created all these wonderful things. Do this atlength and think deeply and profoundly at the absolute might of Allâh.
Withhold your eyesight from everything which Allâh has forbidden, suchas looking at women and other such trials, looking at things whichcontain no benefit. If you do this Allâh will give you three qualities:The sweetness of Eemaan, khushoo' in your heart and keen insight.
If however you fall into that then seek forgiveness from Allâhwith your heart and your tongue and follow this slip with a good deedyou will find Allâh Oft-Forgiving and Merciful.
Guard thesupplication which is to be uttered upon leaving a gathering and whichserves as an expiation for it: Glory be to you O Allâh and by YourPraise, I testify that there is none worthy of worship except You(alone), I seek forgiveness from you and repent to You.
My brother and sister for the sake of Allâh, it is essential foryou to increase in actions of goodness in every place and at everytime. Do not hold any action in contempt whether it is small or large,as long as it is an action of good and by the permission of Allâh - mybrother and sister - you will never become tired of performing theseactions so long as you drink from the delicious fountain which willincrease your love for such actions. That is the fountain of Ikhlaas(sincerity) and Ihtisaab (seeking or expectation of reward) from Allâhthe Subime and Exalted.
Beware of every matter which brings you closer to the Hellfire and runtowards every matter which will steer and direct you to the gates ofParadise by the Mercy of Allâh and His Favour.
Itis also essential for you - my brother and sister - to set right and tomake up for whatever has passed you by in your life: hours, days,weeks, months and Ramadans, the excellence of which people are heedlessof. The blessed month of Ramadan in which there is great bounty. Ifonly they knew that whoever found Lailatul-Qadr in this blessed monthwill have his supplication answered. He will be (after having passed itwhile engaged in prayer, repentance, and forgiveness) from among thebest of Allâh's righteous servants. His heart will become attached toAllâh and will find find comfort in with Him when he is alone.
He will also know that this world is a deception and that there isno pleasure, delight, ease or happiness except by obedience to Allâhand following the Messenger of Allâh sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam inall of his affairs.
His heart will become attached to Allâh and he will soon loverighteousness and its performers and be very eager for it. He will alsohate evil and those who fall into it and be eager in distancing himselffrom it….
death the destroyer of delights
Allaah (subhaanah) said:
'Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in
fortresses built up strong and high!' 4:78
Allaah (subhaanah) said:
'We have decreed death to you all, and We are not unable. To
transfigure you and create you in (forms) that you know not. And
indeed, you have already known the first form of creation (i.e. the
creation of Adam), why then do you not remember or take heed?'56:60-
62
Allaah (subhaanah) said:
'He is the Irresistible, Supreme over His slaves, and He sends
guardians (angels guarding and writing all of one's good and bad
deeds) over you, until when death approaches one of you, Our
Messengers (angel of death and his assistants) take his soul, and
they never neglect their duty.' 6:61
A brother (Allaah reward him) sent a text message saying:
'Death is a harsh and fearful reality faced by everyone who lives.
No one has the power to avoid it, nor does anyone around the dying
person have the ability to prevent it. It is something which
happens every moment and is encountered by the old and the young,
the rich and the poor, the strong and the weak. They are all the
same in that they have no plan or means of escaping it, no power, no
means of intercession, no way to prevent it, nor to delay it, which
shows that indeed it comes from One having tremendous power-so that
the human is helpless in this regard and can only submit to it'
Indeed, when someone loved dies in our communities, the affair of
death is given more attention and the dunyaah becomes tasteless for
some time. This is the way it should be whether someone dies or
not, in order that we may make more effort in preparing for the
meeting with our Lord. Let our gatherings be that of remembrance of
Allaah and the aakhirah, ilm and advice towards that which increases
the slaves in taqwah. The Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)
said:
'MAKE MUCH REMEBRANCE OF THE DESTROYER OF DELIGHTS, IT IS
DEATH'
And let us not be deceived by this worldly life and its glitter.
Allaah said:
'O you who believe! Let not your properties or your children divert
you from the remembrance of Allaah. And whosoever does that, then
they are the losers. And spend (in charity) of that with which We
have provided you, before death comes to one of you and he says: "My
Lord! If only You would give me respite for a little while (i.e.
return to the worldly life), then I should give Sadaqah (i.e.
Zakaat) of my wealth, and be among the righteous [i.e. perform Hajj
(pilgrimage to Makkah)]. And Allaah grants respite to none when his
appointed time (death) comes. And Allaah is All-Aware of what you
do.' 63:9-11
Allaah (subhaanah) said:
'The mutual rivalry for piling up of worldly things diverts you,
until you visit the graves (i.e. till you die). Nay! You shall come
to know! Again, Nay! You shall come to know! Nay! If you knew with
a sure knowledge (the end result of piling up, you would not have
occupied yourselves in worldly things) Verily, You shall see the
blazing Fire (Hell)! And again, you shall see it with certainty of
sight! Then, on that Day, you shall be asked about the delight (you
indulged in, in this world)!' 102:1-8
We ask Allaah to overlook our short comings and that of our dead
brothers and sisters, and select for us and for them the best of our
actions and enter us into His Mercy. And we ask Allaah to grant us
taqfeeq so that we are from those who constantly remember death and
perform actions sincerely for Allaah.(subhaanah)
'Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in
fortresses built up strong and high!' 4:78
Allaah (subhaanah) said:
'We have decreed death to you all, and We are not unable. To
transfigure you and create you in (forms) that you know not. And
indeed, you have already known the first form of creation (i.e. the
creation of Adam), why then do you not remember or take heed?'56:60-
62
Allaah (subhaanah) said:
'He is the Irresistible, Supreme over His slaves, and He sends
guardians (angels guarding and writing all of one's good and bad
deeds) over you, until when death approaches one of you, Our
Messengers (angel of death and his assistants) take his soul, and
they never neglect their duty.' 6:61
A brother (Allaah reward him) sent a text message saying:
'Death is a harsh and fearful reality faced by everyone who lives.
No one has the power to avoid it, nor does anyone around the dying
person have the ability to prevent it. It is something which
happens every moment and is encountered by the old and the young,
the rich and the poor, the strong and the weak. They are all the
same in that they have no plan or means of escaping it, no power, no
means of intercession, no way to prevent it, nor to delay it, which
shows that indeed it comes from One having tremendous power-so that
the human is helpless in this regard and can only submit to it'
Indeed, when someone loved dies in our communities, the affair of
death is given more attention and the dunyaah becomes tasteless for
some time. This is the way it should be whether someone dies or
not, in order that we may make more effort in preparing for the
meeting with our Lord. Let our gatherings be that of remembrance of
Allaah and the aakhirah, ilm and advice towards that which increases
the slaves in taqwah. The Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)
said:
'MAKE MUCH REMEBRANCE OF THE DESTROYER OF DELIGHTS, IT IS
DEATH'
And let us not be deceived by this worldly life and its glitter.
Allaah said:
'O you who believe! Let not your properties or your children divert
you from the remembrance of Allaah. And whosoever does that, then
they are the losers. And spend (in charity) of that with which We
have provided you, before death comes to one of you and he says: "My
Lord! If only You would give me respite for a little while (i.e.
return to the worldly life), then I should give Sadaqah (i.e.
Zakaat) of my wealth, and be among the righteous [i.e. perform Hajj
(pilgrimage to Makkah)]. And Allaah grants respite to none when his
appointed time (death) comes. And Allaah is All-Aware of what you
do.' 63:9-11
Allaah (subhaanah) said:
'The mutual rivalry for piling up of worldly things diverts you,
until you visit the graves (i.e. till you die). Nay! You shall come
to know! Again, Nay! You shall come to know! Nay! If you knew with
a sure knowledge (the end result of piling up, you would not have
occupied yourselves in worldly things) Verily, You shall see the
blazing Fire (Hell)! And again, you shall see it with certainty of
sight! Then, on that Day, you shall be asked about the delight (you
indulged in, in this world)!' 102:1-8
We ask Allaah to overlook our short comings and that of our dead
brothers and sisters, and select for us and for them the best of our
actions and enter us into His Mercy. And we ask Allaah to grant us
taqfeeq so that we are from those who constantly remember death and
perform actions sincerely for Allaah.(subhaanah)
Benefit
"Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem
Assalaamualaikum
She is Umm Abdir Rahmaan bint al Jawhar.
She graduated in Sharee'ah in Malik al Faisal university bil Ahsaa in Saudi
Arabia.
Three days after completeing her studies - Shaykh Fawzee al atharee
proposed to her - then together they travelled to Qaseem in Saudi Arabia where they studied
under ash-Shaykh al-Allaamah al-Faqeeh Mohammad bin Saalih al Uthayimeen -
for 5 years.
She said that the shaykh was very strict about who he allowed to teach - but
he gave Umm Abdir Rahmaan permission to teach sisters in her house.
In bahrain they have 21 centres for hifdh of the Quraan and other studies
like aqeedah and hadeeth and fiqh etc- always starting with tawheed and
utilising books mainly by Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen but also by Shaykh Saalih al Fawzaan,
al Haafidh al Hakamee etc.
She travels to the emirates every year - during the summer to give da'wah -
but this year she chose to come to the UK of her own accord in order to
benefit the sisters.
Umm Abdir Rahmaan's duroos are different in the sense - that one gets the
impression that she prepares them specifically for a female audience - she
will interact with the listeners and stand up and demonstrate to make issues
clear for everybody - also she will include a lot of her own experiences and
situations she encountered whilst giving daw'ah.
These are some of the main points that i was able to gather from her duroos:
The first few duroos were in relation to ilm and the seeking of it and
matters relating to the student of knowledge.
She mentioned that gaining ilm increases fear in Allaah- and the ones with
the most fear are Allaah's chosen elite - and she mentioned the ayah in
Surah Faatir mentioning that the ones that fear Allaah most from His slaves
are the ulema.
Why gain ilm?
1 She will gain the Pleasure of Allaah
2 She will have a good life in the dunya and aakhirah
3 'Ilm rectifies (with good cultivation) manners
4 It is a protection from all evils
It is waajib upon the taalib (student) to have ikhlaas (sincerity) in all actions and to
constantly renew her intention throught her ibaadaat (worship). She must stay away
from love of fame and leadership and nobody is safe from this except whom
Allaah saves. Imaam ash Shaatibee mentioned, 'the last things to enter the
soul of the righteous is rulership and love of fame'.
The student should be diligent in attending duroos, should have good time
management, a high desire to procede and strong intention, making du'aa,
memorising and sticking close to the shaykhah, she should make revision and
taking notes is better than just listening. She should seek ilm in her
youth as this is the time of strength and its likely that when she gets
married and has children - she will have more responsibilities and less
time. She should organise her time - giving preference where due e.g
tawheed first. she should leave off exessive friends and the market places.
She should leave off exessive sleep except what is needed -maybe 8 hours a
day. She should also leave off excessive mubaah (permissible/allowable) things as
Ibnul Qayyim mentions in "al-Fawaa-id" that the reason for falling into sin
are four:
1 Excessive eating and drinking
2 Excessive talking and mixing with the people
3 Excessive relationships with ones spouse
4 Excessive looking
The student yafham - ya'mal thumma yah'fadh
[meaning] understands, acts then memorises (taken from the athar of Ibn Mas'ood where
he mentioned that the Sahaabah never used to procede further than 10 ayaaat
until.....)
Quickly procede 'ilm with 'amal (action) - otherwise the 'ilm will leave you.
If a student feels as if she has a bad understanding or is a slow reader and
has bad hifdh then she must have ikhlaas, she must strive with herself and
utilise her time correctly, she must have faith in Allaah and also in
herself and Allaah will increase her.
Imaam bukhaari was asked what is the cure to bad hifdh? so he replied 'by
constantly looking into the books and with a purified niyyah'.
How does the taalibah (female student of knowledge) benefit by coming early to the circles of 'ilm?
1 She will have a great reward in the aakhirah (Hereafter)
2 The angels gather in the circles of 'ilm
3 Sakinah (tranqulity) descends there
4 You will be nearer to the speaker
5 You will comprehend more than those who came late.
What is upon the taalibah if she misses a dars (lesson)?
She makes up for the missed lesson - by collecting notes from other students
- as the 'ilm is like a chain, if one of the links is missing then it will
affect the gathered 'ilm. She should always have a clever Saahibah (female companion),
who you know will collect notes that you may miss.
What if the taalibah cannot comprehend or understand an issue?
She should revise and go back to the shaykhah or go back to other people who
were present in the dars.
She advised that if you buy a new book, then you shouldn't put it into your
maktaba until you have read two things from it:
1 The muqaddimah -the introduction
2 The fahras - the index
This way you will know what teh book is about and what issue it covers.
also one should memorise the title and the author.
What is the manner of putting a question to the shaikh?
She should choose a befitting time, and respect the shaikhah during asking and
she should not cut him/her off until after its explanation, also one should not
ask questions which will cause hardship or just to test the shaikh etc.
There were other questions on this subject - but i have selected the main
important points.
"Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem
Assalaamualaikum
She is Umm Abdir Rahmaan bint al Jawhar.
She graduated in Sharee'ah in Malik al Faisal university bil Ahsaa in Saudi
Arabia.
Three days after completeing her studies - Shaykh Fawzee al atharee
proposed to her - then together they travelled to Qaseem in Saudi Arabia where they studied
under ash-Shaykh al-Allaamah al-Faqeeh Mohammad bin Saalih al Uthayimeen -
for 5 years.
She said that the shaykh was very strict about who he allowed to teach - but
he gave Umm Abdir Rahmaan permission to teach sisters in her house.
In bahrain they have 21 centres for hifdh of the Quraan and other studies
like aqeedah and hadeeth and fiqh etc- always starting with tawheed and
utilising books mainly by Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen but also by Shaykh Saalih al Fawzaan,
al Haafidh al Hakamee etc.
She travels to the emirates every year - during the summer to give da'wah -
but this year she chose to come to the UK of her own accord in order to
benefit the sisters.
Umm Abdir Rahmaan's duroos are different in the sense - that one gets the
impression that she prepares them specifically for a female audience - she
will interact with the listeners and stand up and demonstrate to make issues
clear for everybody - also she will include a lot of her own experiences and
situations she encountered whilst giving daw'ah.
These are some of the main points that i was able to gather from her duroos:
The first few duroos were in relation to ilm and the seeking of it and
matters relating to the student of knowledge.
She mentioned that gaining ilm increases fear in Allaah- and the ones with
the most fear are Allaah's chosen elite - and she mentioned the ayah in
Surah Faatir mentioning that the ones that fear Allaah most from His slaves
are the ulema.
Why gain ilm?
1 She will gain the Pleasure of Allaah
2 She will have a good life in the dunya and aakhirah
3 'Ilm rectifies (with good cultivation) manners
4 It is a protection from all evils
It is waajib upon the taalib (student) to have ikhlaas (sincerity) in all actions and to
constantly renew her intention throught her ibaadaat (worship). She must stay away
from love of fame and leadership and nobody is safe from this except whom
Allaah saves. Imaam ash Shaatibee mentioned, 'the last things to enter the
soul of the righteous is rulership and love of fame'.
The student should be diligent in attending duroos, should have good time
management, a high desire to procede and strong intention, making du'aa,
memorising and sticking close to the shaykhah, she should make revision and
taking notes is better than just listening. She should seek ilm in her
youth as this is the time of strength and its likely that when she gets
married and has children - she will have more responsibilities and less
time. She should organise her time - giving preference where due e.g
tawheed first. she should leave off exessive friends and the market places.
She should leave off exessive sleep except what is needed -maybe 8 hours a
day. She should also leave off excessive mubaah (permissible/allowable) things as
Ibnul Qayyim mentions in "al-Fawaa-id" that the reason for falling into sin
are four:
1 Excessive eating and drinking
2 Excessive talking and mixing with the people
3 Excessive relationships with ones spouse
4 Excessive looking
The student yafham - ya'mal thumma yah'fadh
[meaning] understands, acts then memorises (taken from the athar of Ibn Mas'ood where
he mentioned that the Sahaabah never used to procede further than 10 ayaaat
until.....)
Quickly procede 'ilm with 'amal (action) - otherwise the 'ilm will leave you.
If a student feels as if she has a bad understanding or is a slow reader and
has bad hifdh then she must have ikhlaas, she must strive with herself and
utilise her time correctly, she must have faith in Allaah and also in
herself and Allaah will increase her.
Imaam bukhaari was asked what is the cure to bad hifdh? so he replied 'by
constantly looking into the books and with a purified niyyah'.
How does the taalibah (female student of knowledge) benefit by coming early to the circles of 'ilm?
1 She will have a great reward in the aakhirah (Hereafter)
2 The angels gather in the circles of 'ilm
3 Sakinah (tranqulity) descends there
4 You will be nearer to the speaker
5 You will comprehend more than those who came late.
What is upon the taalibah if she misses a dars (lesson)?
She makes up for the missed lesson - by collecting notes from other students
- as the 'ilm is like a chain, if one of the links is missing then it will
affect the gathered 'ilm. She should always have a clever Saahibah (female companion),
who you know will collect notes that you may miss.
What if the taalibah cannot comprehend or understand an issue?
She should revise and go back to the shaykhah or go back to other people who
were present in the dars.
She advised that if you buy a new book, then you shouldn't put it into your
maktaba until you have read two things from it:
1 The muqaddimah -the introduction
2 The fahras - the index
This way you will know what teh book is about and what issue it covers.
also one should memorise the title and the author.
What is the manner of putting a question to the shaikh?
She should choose a befitting time, and respect the shaikhah during asking and
she should not cut him/her off until after its explanation, also one should not
ask questions which will cause hardship or just to test the shaikh etc.
There were other questions on this subject - but i have selected the main
important points.
Shaytaan attempts to make people negligent or exaggerate in the religion;
and causes them to be lazy and delay performing good deeds
Shaytaan attempts to either make people negligent or exaggerate in their religion:
Ibnul-Qayyim said, ‘There is nothing that Allah has enjoined, but Shaytan has ways of dealing with it, either by inclining (people) towards falling short and being negligence or excessive and exaggeration. He does not care which of these two mistakes a person makes. So he may come to a person’s heart and check it out, and if he finds that he is lazy, negligent and looking for concessions, then he goes along with that. He holds him back and stops him from doing things; he makes him lazy, indifferent and negligent, and encourages him to seek alternative interpretations and hope for forgiveness etc., until a person may give up doing all things that have been enjoined.
However, if he finds that a person is cautious and serious, and that he is enthusiastic and capable, he despairs of succeeding with him on that front. So he urges him to strive to excess, and makes him think that this is not sufficient and that he has higher ambitions than that, and that he has to do more than others do. So he tells them, do not go to sleep, when they go to sleep; do not break your fast when they break their fast; do not flag when they flag; if one of them washes his hands and face three times, then you should wash them seven times; if he does Wudhu for every prayer then you should do ghusl for it, and other kinds of exaggeration and excess.
He makes him go to extremes and go beyond the straight path, just like he makes the first person fall short and not come anywhere near it. His aim in both cases is to steer both of them away from the straight path, one by not letting him approach it or come anywhere near it, and the other by making him go too far and overstep the mark. In this way, most people have been tempted and nothing can save a person from that except deeply rooted knowledge, faith and power to resist him (Shaytan) and adherence to the middle course. And Allah is the One Whose Help we seek.’ [al-Wabil as-Sayyib, p.19]
Shaytaan causes people to procrastinate, be lazy and delay performing good deeds:
One of the ways in which Shaytan does this is mentioned in the hadeeth recorded in Saheeh al-Bukharee from Abu Hurayrah (radhi allahu anhu), who said that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said,
‘Shaytan puts three knots at the back of the head of any of you if he is asleep. On every knot he reads and exhales the following words, ‘The night is long, so stay asleep.’ When one wakes up and remembers Allah, one knot is undone; and when one performs ablution, the second knot is undone, and when one prays the third knot is undone and one gets up energetic with a good heart in the morning; otherwise one gets up lazy and with a mischievous heart.’ [Saheeh al-Bukharee (21/243)]
Shaytan causes people to forget the truth and the Commands of Allah. ‘Shaytan has overtaken them. So he has made them forget the remembrance of Allah. They are the party of Shaytan…’ [Soorah al-Mujadilah (58): 19] But as soon as we remember, we should strive to leave that which distracted us from the remembrance of Allah and His Commands as the Qur’aan commands us, ‘If Shaytan causes you to forget, then do not sit after the remembrance in the company of the wrong-doers.’ [Soorah al-An'am (6): 68]
Ibn Jawzi (rahimahullah) mentions how Shaytan makes one procrastinate and lazy, ‘…he makes sinner put off repenting, and he keeps him indulging in his desires, telling him that one day he could repent… Perhaps, a faqeeh intends to revise some topic, but he says, ‘Rest for a while,’ or he sees a worshipper waking up at night to pray, and he tells him, ‘You have plenty of time.’ He keeps on making people like being lazy, or put off doing good deeds, and he deceives them by telling them that they have plenty of time and a lot of hope.
So the one who wants to do some good deed should carry out his action with determination and resolve. Resolve means not wasting time and not delaying things. He should forget about the idea of having plenty of time because the one who has been warned (of the punishment of Allah) should not be assured. What you miss, you cannot make up for it. The reason for every shortcoming or inclination of evil is the belief that there is plenty of time and a lot of hope, because man keeps thinking of giving up evil and turning towards good, but delays. No doubt, whoever thinks that he has the whole day ahead of him will take his time, and whoever has the hope that he will still be there in the morning will do very little during the night, but the one who thinks of death as imminent will strive harder.’ [Talbees Iblees, p.458]
and causes them to be lazy and delay performing good deeds
Shaytaan attempts to either make people negligent or exaggerate in their religion:
Ibnul-Qayyim said, ‘There is nothing that Allah has enjoined, but Shaytan has ways of dealing with it, either by inclining (people) towards falling short and being negligence or excessive and exaggeration. He does not care which of these two mistakes a person makes. So he may come to a person’s heart and check it out, and if he finds that he is lazy, negligent and looking for concessions, then he goes along with that. He holds him back and stops him from doing things; he makes him lazy, indifferent and negligent, and encourages him to seek alternative interpretations and hope for forgiveness etc., until a person may give up doing all things that have been enjoined.
However, if he finds that a person is cautious and serious, and that he is enthusiastic and capable, he despairs of succeeding with him on that front. So he urges him to strive to excess, and makes him think that this is not sufficient and that he has higher ambitions than that, and that he has to do more than others do. So he tells them, do not go to sleep, when they go to sleep; do not break your fast when they break their fast; do not flag when they flag; if one of them washes his hands and face three times, then you should wash them seven times; if he does Wudhu for every prayer then you should do ghusl for it, and other kinds of exaggeration and excess.
He makes him go to extremes and go beyond the straight path, just like he makes the first person fall short and not come anywhere near it. His aim in both cases is to steer both of them away from the straight path, one by not letting him approach it or come anywhere near it, and the other by making him go too far and overstep the mark. In this way, most people have been tempted and nothing can save a person from that except deeply rooted knowledge, faith and power to resist him (Shaytan) and adherence to the middle course. And Allah is the One Whose Help we seek.’ [al-Wabil as-Sayyib, p.19]
Shaytaan causes people to procrastinate, be lazy and delay performing good deeds:
One of the ways in which Shaytan does this is mentioned in the hadeeth recorded in Saheeh al-Bukharee from Abu Hurayrah (radhi allahu anhu), who said that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said,
‘Shaytan puts three knots at the back of the head of any of you if he is asleep. On every knot he reads and exhales the following words, ‘The night is long, so stay asleep.’ When one wakes up and remembers Allah, one knot is undone; and when one performs ablution, the second knot is undone, and when one prays the third knot is undone and one gets up energetic with a good heart in the morning; otherwise one gets up lazy and with a mischievous heart.’ [Saheeh al-Bukharee (21/243)]
Shaytan causes people to forget the truth and the Commands of Allah. ‘Shaytan has overtaken them. So he has made them forget the remembrance of Allah. They are the party of Shaytan…’ [Soorah al-Mujadilah (58): 19] But as soon as we remember, we should strive to leave that which distracted us from the remembrance of Allah and His Commands as the Qur’aan commands us, ‘If Shaytan causes you to forget, then do not sit after the remembrance in the company of the wrong-doers.’ [Soorah al-An'am (6): 68]
Ibn Jawzi (rahimahullah) mentions how Shaytan makes one procrastinate and lazy, ‘…he makes sinner put off repenting, and he keeps him indulging in his desires, telling him that one day he could repent… Perhaps, a faqeeh intends to revise some topic, but he says, ‘Rest for a while,’ or he sees a worshipper waking up at night to pray, and he tells him, ‘You have plenty of time.’ He keeps on making people like being lazy, or put off doing good deeds, and he deceives them by telling them that they have plenty of time and a lot of hope.
So the one who wants to do some good deed should carry out his action with determination and resolve. Resolve means not wasting time and not delaying things. He should forget about the idea of having plenty of time because the one who has been warned (of the punishment of Allah) should not be assured. What you miss, you cannot make up for it. The reason for every shortcoming or inclination of evil is the belief that there is plenty of time and a lot of hope, because man keeps thinking of giving up evil and turning towards good, but delays. No doubt, whoever thinks that he has the whole day ahead of him will take his time, and whoever has the hope that he will still be there in the morning will do very little during the night, but the one who thinks of death as imminent will strive harder.’ [Talbees Iblees, p.458]
Punishment For Not Offering the Prayers
Hadith of the Prophet Peace And Blessings of Allah be upon him
The one who disdains the prayers will receive fifteen punishments from Allah.Six punishments in lifetime, three while dying, three in grave and three on the Day of Judgement.
THE SIX PUNISHMENTS OF LIFE:
1. Allah takes away blessings from his age(makes his life misfortunate)
2. Allah does not accept his plea (Du'aa)
3. Allah erases the features of good people from his face.
4. He will be detested by all creatures on earth.
5. Allah does not award him for his good deeds. (No thawab)
6. He will not be included in the Du'aa of good people.
THE THREE PUNISHMENTS WHILE DYING:
1. He dies humiliated.
2. He dies hungry.
3. He dies thirsty. Even if he drinks the water of all seas he will still be thirsty.
THE THREE PUNISHMENTS IN THE GRAVE:
1. Allah tightens his grave until his chest ribs come over each other.
2. Allah pours on him fire with embers.
3. Allah sets on him a snake called "the brave","the bold" which hits him from morning until afternoon for leaving Fajr prayer,from the afternoon until Asr for leaving Dhuhr prayer and so on.With each strike he sinks 70 yards under the ground.
THE THREE PUNISHMENTS ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT:
1. Allah sends who would accompany him to hell pulling him on the face.
2. Allah gives him an angry look that makes the flesh of his face fall down.
3. Allah judges him strictly and orders him to be thrown in hell
Hadith of the Prophet Peace And Blessings of Allah be upon him
The one who disdains the prayers will receive fifteen punishments from Allah.Six punishments in lifetime, three while dying, three in grave and three on the Day of Judgement.
THE SIX PUNISHMENTS OF LIFE:
1. Allah takes away blessings from his age(makes his life misfortunate)
2. Allah does not accept his plea (Du'aa)
3. Allah erases the features of good people from his face.
4. He will be detested by all creatures on earth.
5. Allah does not award him for his good deeds. (No thawab)
6. He will not be included in the Du'aa of good people.
THE THREE PUNISHMENTS WHILE DYING:
1. He dies humiliated.
2. He dies hungry.
3. He dies thirsty. Even if he drinks the water of all seas he will still be thirsty.
THE THREE PUNISHMENTS IN THE GRAVE:
1. Allah tightens his grave until his chest ribs come over each other.
2. Allah pours on him fire with embers.
3. Allah sets on him a snake called "the brave","the bold" which hits him from morning until afternoon for leaving Fajr prayer,from the afternoon until Asr for leaving Dhuhr prayer and so on.With each strike he sinks 70 yards under the ground.
THE THREE PUNISHMENTS ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT:
1. Allah sends who would accompany him to hell pulling him on the face.
2. Allah gives him an angry look that makes the flesh of his face fall down.
3. Allah judges him strictly and orders him to be thrown in hell
The Great Virtue of Lowering the Gaze
Imaam ibn al-Qayyim
Allaah, the Exalted said,
"Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their private parts; that will make for greater purity for them. Indeed Allaah is well acquainted with all that they do." [an-Nur (24):30]
So Allaah made purification and spiritual growth to be the outcome of lowering the gaze and guarding the private parts. It is for this reason that lowrering ones gaze from (seeing) the prohibited things necessarily leads to three benefits that carry tremendous value and are of great significance.
So Allaah made purification and spiritual growth to be the outcome of lowering the gaze and guarding the private parts. It is for this reason that lowrering ones gaze from (seeing) the prohibited things necessarily leads to three benefits that carry tremendous value and are of great significance.
The First: experiencing the delight and sweetness of faith.
This delight and sweetness is far greater and more desirable that which might have been attained from the object that one lowered his gaze from for the sake of Allaah. Indeed, "whosoever leaves something for the sake of Allaah then Allaah, the Mighty and Magnificent, will replace it with something better than it."
The soul is a temptress and loves to look at beautiful forms and the eye is the guide of the heart. The heart commissions its guide to go and look to see what is there and when the eye informs it of a beautiful image it shudders out of love and desire for it. Frequently such inter-relations tire and wear down both the heart and the eye as is said:
When you sent your eye as a guide For your heart one day, the object of sight fatigued you For you saw one over whom you had no power Neither a portion or in totality, instead you had to be patient.
Therefore when the sight is prevented from looking and investigating the heart finds relief from having to go through the arduous task of (vainly) seeking and desiring.
Whosoever lets his sight roam free will find that he is in a perpetual state of loss and anguish for sight gives birth to love (mahabbah) the starting point of which is the heart being devoted and dependant upon that which it beholds. This then intensifies to become fervent longing (sabaabah) whereby the heart becomes totally dependant and devoted to the (object of its desire). Then this further intensifies and becomes infatuation (gharaamah) which clings to the heart like the one seeking repayment of a debt clings firmly to the one who has to pay the debt. Then this intensifies and becomes passionate love (ishk) and this is a love that transgresses all bounds. Then this further intensifies and becomes crazed passion (shaghafa) and this a love that encompasses every tiny part of the heart. Then this intensifies and becomes worshipful love (tatayyuma). Tatayyum means worship and it is said: tayyama Allaah i.e. he worshipped Allaah.
Hence the heart begins to worship that which is not correct for it to worship and the reason behind all of this was an illegal glance. The heart is now bound in chains whereas before it used to be the master, it is now imprisoned whereas before it was free. It has been oppressed by the eye and it complains to it upon which the eye replies: I am your guide and messenger and it was you who sent me in the first place!
All that has been mentioned applies to the heart that has relinquished the love of Allaah and being sincere to Him for indeed the heart must have an object of love that it devotes itself to. Therefore when the heart does not love Allaah Alone and does not take Him as its God then it must worship something else.
Allaah said concerning Yusuf as-Siddeeq (AS),
"Thus (did We order) so that We might turn away from him all evil and indecent actions for he was one of Our sincere servants." [Yusuf (12): 24]
It was because the wife of al-Azeez was a polytheist that (the passionate love) entered her heart despite her being married. It was because Yusuf (AS) was sincere to Allaah that he was saved from it despite his being a young man, unamarried and a servant.
The Second: the illumination of the heart, clear perception and penetrating insight.
Ibn Shujaa` al-Kirmaanee said, "whosoever builds his outward form upon following the Sunnah, his internal form upon perpetual contemplation and awareness of Allaah, he restrains his soul from following desires, he lowers his gaze from the forbidden things and he always eats the lawful things then his perception and insight shall never be wrong."
Allaah mentioned the people of Lut and what they were afflicted with and then He went on to say, "Indeed in this are signs for the Mutawassimeen." [al-Hijr (15): 75]
The Mutwassimeen are those who have clear perception and penetrating insight, those who are secure from looking at the unlawful and performing indecent acts.
Allaah said after mentioning the verse concerning lowering the gaze, "Allaah is the Light of the heavens and the earth." [an-Nur (24): 35] The reason behind this is that the reward is of the same type as the action. So whosoever lowers his gaze from the unlawful for the sake of Allaah, the Mighty and Magnificent, He will replace it with something better than it of the same type. So just as the servant restrained the light of his eye from falling upon the unlawful, Allaah blesses the light of his sight and heart thereby making him perceive what he would not have seen and understood had he not lowered his gaze.
This is a matter that the person can physically sense in himself for the heart is like a mirror and the base desires are like rust upon it. When the mirror is polished and cleaned of the rust then it will reflect the realities (haqaa`iq) as they actually are. However if it remains rusty then it will not reflect properly and therefore its knowledge and speech will arise from conjecture and doubt.
The Third: the heart becoming strong, firm and courageous.
Allaah will give it the might of aid for its strength just as He gave it the might of clear proofs for its light. Hence the heart shall combine both of these factors and as a result, Shaytaan shall flee from it. It is mentioned in the narration, "whosoever opposes his base desires, the Shaytaan shall flee in terror from his shade."
This is why the one who follows his base desires shall find in himself the ignominy of the soul, its being weak, feeble and contemptible. Indeed Allaah places nobilty for the one who obeys Him and disgrace for the one who disobeys Him, "So do not lose heart nor fall into despair; for you must gain mastery if you are true in faith." [Aali Imraan(3): 139]
"If any do seek for nobilty and power then to Allaah belongs all nobility and power." [Faatir(35): 10]
Meaning that whosoever seeks after disobedience and sin then Allaah, the Might and Magnificent, will humiliate the one who disobeys Him. Some of the salaf said, "the people seek nobilty and power at the door of the Kings and they will not find it except through the obedience of Allaah."
This is because the one who who obeys Allaah has taken Allaah as his friend and protector and Allaah will never humiliate the one who takes his Lord as friend and patron. In theDu`aa Qunut their occurs, "the one who You take as a friend is not humiliated and the one who You take as an enemy is not ennobled."
Imaam ibn al-Qayyim
Allaah, the Exalted said,
"Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their private parts; that will make for greater purity for them. Indeed Allaah is well acquainted with all that they do." [an-Nur (24):30]
So Allaah made purification and spiritual growth to be the outcome of lowering the gaze and guarding the private parts. It is for this reason that lowrering ones gaze from (seeing) the prohibited things necessarily leads to three benefits that carry tremendous value and are of great significance.
So Allaah made purification and spiritual growth to be the outcome of lowering the gaze and guarding the private parts. It is for this reason that lowrering ones gaze from (seeing) the prohibited things necessarily leads to three benefits that carry tremendous value and are of great significance.
The First: experiencing the delight and sweetness of faith.
This delight and sweetness is far greater and more desirable that which might have been attained from the object that one lowered his gaze from for the sake of Allaah. Indeed, "whosoever leaves something for the sake of Allaah then Allaah, the Mighty and Magnificent, will replace it with something better than it."
The soul is a temptress and loves to look at beautiful forms and the eye is the guide of the heart. The heart commissions its guide to go and look to see what is there and when the eye informs it of a beautiful image it shudders out of love and desire for it. Frequently such inter-relations tire and wear down both the heart and the eye as is said:
When you sent your eye as a guide For your heart one day, the object of sight fatigued you For you saw one over whom you had no power Neither a portion or in totality, instead you had to be patient.
Therefore when the sight is prevented from looking and investigating the heart finds relief from having to go through the arduous task of (vainly) seeking and desiring.
Whosoever lets his sight roam free will find that he is in a perpetual state of loss and anguish for sight gives birth to love (mahabbah) the starting point of which is the heart being devoted and dependant upon that which it beholds. This then intensifies to become fervent longing (sabaabah) whereby the heart becomes totally dependant and devoted to the (object of its desire). Then this further intensifies and becomes infatuation (gharaamah) which clings to the heart like the one seeking repayment of a debt clings firmly to the one who has to pay the debt. Then this intensifies and becomes passionate love (ishk) and this is a love that transgresses all bounds. Then this further intensifies and becomes crazed passion (shaghafa) and this a love that encompasses every tiny part of the heart. Then this intensifies and becomes worshipful love (tatayyuma). Tatayyum means worship and it is said: tayyama Allaah i.e. he worshipped Allaah.
Hence the heart begins to worship that which is not correct for it to worship and the reason behind all of this was an illegal glance. The heart is now bound in chains whereas before it used to be the master, it is now imprisoned whereas before it was free. It has been oppressed by the eye and it complains to it upon which the eye replies: I am your guide and messenger and it was you who sent me in the first place!
All that has been mentioned applies to the heart that has relinquished the love of Allaah and being sincere to Him for indeed the heart must have an object of love that it devotes itself to. Therefore when the heart does not love Allaah Alone and does not take Him as its God then it must worship something else.
Allaah said concerning Yusuf as-Siddeeq (AS),
"Thus (did We order) so that We might turn away from him all evil and indecent actions for he was one of Our sincere servants." [Yusuf (12): 24]
It was because the wife of al-Azeez was a polytheist that (the passionate love) entered her heart despite her being married. It was because Yusuf (AS) was sincere to Allaah that he was saved from it despite his being a young man, unamarried and a servant.
The Second: the illumination of the heart, clear perception and penetrating insight.
Ibn Shujaa` al-Kirmaanee said, "whosoever builds his outward form upon following the Sunnah, his internal form upon perpetual contemplation and awareness of Allaah, he restrains his soul from following desires, he lowers his gaze from the forbidden things and he always eats the lawful things then his perception and insight shall never be wrong."
Allaah mentioned the people of Lut and what they were afflicted with and then He went on to say, "Indeed in this are signs for the Mutawassimeen." [al-Hijr (15): 75]
The Mutwassimeen are those who have clear perception and penetrating insight, those who are secure from looking at the unlawful and performing indecent acts.
Allaah said after mentioning the verse concerning lowering the gaze, "Allaah is the Light of the heavens and the earth." [an-Nur (24): 35] The reason behind this is that the reward is of the same type as the action. So whosoever lowers his gaze from the unlawful for the sake of Allaah, the Mighty and Magnificent, He will replace it with something better than it of the same type. So just as the servant restrained the light of his eye from falling upon the unlawful, Allaah blesses the light of his sight and heart thereby making him perceive what he would not have seen and understood had he not lowered his gaze.
This is a matter that the person can physically sense in himself for the heart is like a mirror and the base desires are like rust upon it. When the mirror is polished and cleaned of the rust then it will reflect the realities (haqaa`iq) as they actually are. However if it remains rusty then it will not reflect properly and therefore its knowledge and speech will arise from conjecture and doubt.
The Third: the heart becoming strong, firm and courageous.
Allaah will give it the might of aid for its strength just as He gave it the might of clear proofs for its light. Hence the heart shall combine both of these factors and as a result, Shaytaan shall flee from it. It is mentioned in the narration, "whosoever opposes his base desires, the Shaytaan shall flee in terror from his shade."
This is why the one who follows his base desires shall find in himself the ignominy of the soul, its being weak, feeble and contemptible. Indeed Allaah places nobilty for the one who obeys Him and disgrace for the one who disobeys Him, "So do not lose heart nor fall into despair; for you must gain mastery if you are true in faith." [Aali Imraan(3): 139]
"If any do seek for nobilty and power then to Allaah belongs all nobility and power." [Faatir(35): 10]
Meaning that whosoever seeks after disobedience and sin then Allaah, the Might and Magnificent, will humiliate the one who disobeys Him. Some of the salaf said, "the people seek nobilty and power at the door of the Kings and they will not find it except through the obedience of Allaah."
This is because the one who who obeys Allaah has taken Allaah as his friend and protector and Allaah will never humiliate the one who takes his Lord as friend and patron. In theDu`aa Qunut their occurs, "the one who You take as a friend is not humiliated and the one who You take as an enemy is not ennobled."
Characteristics of the Female Hypocrites
Shaikh Muhammad Musa Nasr
His book Al-Munafiqoon (pg. 79-80) [The book is available in English
1. Exposing Their Beauty
Tabarruj or exposing the feminine, physical beauty that is to be concealed from all the non-mahram [1] male population, and seeking to be a source of enticement and fitnah is a sign of Hypocrisy.
Tragic it is to see many women displaying themselves out in public as if they are pieces of meat selling themselves to the onlookers who want nothing more than to defile them.
The norm today is to find that the female physique has become the cheapest commodity that is displayed in the market place. In fact the female physique is seen as a tool to sell other products and services.
The woman who does not guard her modesty and does not draw the veil over her beauty, is a woman who is seeking to displease Allaah and His Messenger while showing love and obedience to the Devil and his Legions. Her deeds are the deeds of the unbelieving woman and her clothes are the clothes of the deviants even if she was to claim to have Eemaan (faith) and chastity.
Allaah says: “O Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts) and as an adornment. And the raiment of righteousness, that is better. Such are among the Ayaat (signs) of Allaah, that they may remember (i.e. leave falsehood and follow truth).” [Surah Al-A‘raaf: 26]
The Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) warned the women by saying: “Those who make Tabarruj are the Munafiqaat (female Hypocrites).”
Refer to Imam al-Albanee's blessed book “The Hijaab of the Muslim Woman” for a full commentary on this issue.
2. Al-Mukhtali‘aat: Women Who Ask Their Husbands For Divorce For No Reason
In the Hadeeth narrated by Ahmad, an-Nasaa'ee, and at-Tirmidhee on the authorities of Abu Hurairah and Thawbaan, Allaah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Al-Mukhtali‘aat are the female Hypocrites.” [2]
Khul‘ is defined by the scholars as being the same as removal of one's garment. This means when the woman seeks to remove (i.e. divorce) her husband from her. This understanding is taken from the words of Allaah:
“It is made lawful for you to have sexual relations with your wives on the nights of fasting. They are a Lîbaas [i.e. body cover or Garment] for you and you are a Libaas for them....” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 187]
The legal understanding of the term (khul') implies that a woman pay a man (her husband) a certain amount of money to end their marital union. If the money (property) is not exchanged then the khul‘ is incomplete and void.
On a whole, the process of khul‘ is sanctioned by Islamic law if done properly and asked for due to the right reasons. Valid reasons for khul‘ vary by circumstance, but in general a few valid reasons for seeking khul‘ are:
1. The husband is of a harsh temperament
2. He harms (abuses) his wife
3. The woman fears that by remaining with him, she will not establish the dictates of Allaah in what He has obligated on her, such as mutual love and companionship.
The khul‘ that is prohibited and earns a woman what we have described from the words of Allaah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) is that which is done without a valid religious, moral or proper reason. This type of khul‘ leads a woman to nifaaq (hypocrisy), because she scorns the laws of Allaah regarding mutual love and companionship.
For further clarification on the laws pertaining to this issue, refer to the verified books of Fiqh and ask the scholars when you do not know.
Shaikh Muhammad Musa Nasr
His book Al-Munafiqoon (pg. 79-80) [The book is available in English
1. Exposing Their Beauty
Tabarruj or exposing the feminine, physical beauty that is to be concealed from all the non-mahram [1] male population, and seeking to be a source of enticement and fitnah is a sign of Hypocrisy.
Tragic it is to see many women displaying themselves out in public as if they are pieces of meat selling themselves to the onlookers who want nothing more than to defile them.
The norm today is to find that the female physique has become the cheapest commodity that is displayed in the market place. In fact the female physique is seen as a tool to sell other products and services.
The woman who does not guard her modesty and does not draw the veil over her beauty, is a woman who is seeking to displease Allaah and His Messenger while showing love and obedience to the Devil and his Legions. Her deeds are the deeds of the unbelieving woman and her clothes are the clothes of the deviants even if she was to claim to have Eemaan (faith) and chastity.
Allaah says: “O Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts) and as an adornment. And the raiment of righteousness, that is better. Such are among the Ayaat (signs) of Allaah, that they may remember (i.e. leave falsehood and follow truth).” [Surah Al-A‘raaf: 26]
The Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) warned the women by saying: “Those who make Tabarruj are the Munafiqaat (female Hypocrites).”
Refer to Imam al-Albanee's blessed book “The Hijaab of the Muslim Woman” for a full commentary on this issue.
2. Al-Mukhtali‘aat: Women Who Ask Their Husbands For Divorce For No Reason
In the Hadeeth narrated by Ahmad, an-Nasaa'ee, and at-Tirmidhee on the authorities of Abu Hurairah and Thawbaan, Allaah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Al-Mukhtali‘aat are the female Hypocrites.” [2]
Khul‘ is defined by the scholars as being the same as removal of one's garment. This means when the woman seeks to remove (i.e. divorce) her husband from her. This understanding is taken from the words of Allaah:
“It is made lawful for you to have sexual relations with your wives on the nights of fasting. They are a Lîbaas [i.e. body cover or Garment] for you and you are a Libaas for them....” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 187]
The legal understanding of the term (khul') implies that a woman pay a man (her husband) a certain amount of money to end their marital union. If the money (property) is not exchanged then the khul‘ is incomplete and void.
On a whole, the process of khul‘ is sanctioned by Islamic law if done properly and asked for due to the right reasons. Valid reasons for khul‘ vary by circumstance, but in general a few valid reasons for seeking khul‘ are:
1. The husband is of a harsh temperament
2. He harms (abuses) his wife
3. The woman fears that by remaining with him, she will not establish the dictates of Allaah in what He has obligated on her, such as mutual love and companionship.
The khul‘ that is prohibited and earns a woman what we have described from the words of Allaah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) is that which is done without a valid religious, moral or proper reason. This type of khul‘ leads a woman to nifaaq (hypocrisy), because she scorns the laws of Allaah regarding mutual love and companionship.
For further clarification on the laws pertaining to this issue, refer to the verified books of Fiqh and ask the scholars when you do not know.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BEST WOMEN OF CREATION
Shaykh Saleem al Hilaalee
Verily Allah created us to worship Him, and He created everything in pairs (male and female) in order that life may continue and that His worship may be established. Allah says,
“And Allah did create you (Aadam) from dust, then from Nutfah (male and female discharge semen drops i.e. Aadam's offspring), then He made you pairs (male and female).”2
Both the man and the woman have obligations and duties to fulfil, each one's duties in harmony with the other's; the woman's duties complete and perfect those of the man, and the man's duties complete and perfect those of the woman. From those qualities which Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) have praised, and which are required in a believing woman in order for her to perform her duties correctly, the greatest of these is the quality of her possessing the Deen. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,
“A woman is married for four things: her wealth, her family status, her beauty and her deen. So you should marry the religious woman (otherwise) you will be a loser.”3
As for the husband, he should also be a righteous man, as the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,
“When someone with whose deen and character you are satisfied asks your daughter in marriage, accede to his request. If you do not do so, there will be temptation on Earth and extensive corruption.”4
Indeed the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) was sent to perfect the people's character, and he (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) praised the woman who possesses these noble qualities and perfect character, saying that she is to a man the best possession in this world -
“The whole world is a provision, and the best object of benefit of the world is the pious woman.”5
Allah has created the woman as a companion for the man, in order that they may live in this world performing their duties and observing Allah's commands correctly. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,
“I was sent to perfect good character,”6 and, “Among the Muslims the most perfect, as regards his faith, is the one whose character is excellent, and the best among you are those who treat their wives well.”7
In order to achieve success in this world and the Hereafter the woman must adopt this methodology of perfecting her character, beginning with those affairs concerning her home. The woman is an essential component in the building of the home in order that it may be established upon Taqwa (fear of Allah & piety). Allah says that those who believe say,
“Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes...”8
Thus, the correction of the household is the first step towards the correction of the society.
THE RIGHTEOUS WOMAN is the one who knows her responsibilities, her rights and obligations, and performs those acts which are obligatory upon her. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,
“If a woman prayed her five daily prayers, fasted in the month (of Ramadan), protected her private parts from illegal sexual intercourse, and obeyed her husband, it will be said to her: ‘Enter Paradise from whichever gate you like',”9
And he (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,
“Islam is based on (the following) five (principles): to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad (sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam) is His Messenger, to offer the prayers dutifully and perfectly, to pay Zakaat, to perform Hajj, and to observe fast during the month of Ramadhaan.”10
This is the first thing which the woman must take care of in all circumstances; whether difficulty, ease, pleasure or dislike - i.e. to perform the five obligatory pillars of Islam. Allah says, recorded in a hadeeth qudsi, “And the most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me is what I have enjoined upon him.”11
THE RIGHTEOUS WOMAN should know the rights of her husband upon her and should obey him in all that is obedience to Allah. When Mu'aadh (radiy Allahu 'anhu) came to the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) and wanted to make sajdah (prostration) to him [as an act of respect], he (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) stopped him and said, “If I were to order anyone to prostrate himself before another, I should order a woman to prostrate herself before her husband.”12 This is because of the great position of the husband with regards to his wife. He (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) also said,
“Whenever a man calls his wife to their bed but she refuses to come, letting him spend the night angry with her, she is cursed by the angels until she relents.”13
And he (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) also said,
“By the one in whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad! No woman has fulfilled her obligations to her Lord until she has fulfilled her obligations to her husband. Even if he were to ask her for herself when she is mounted in the saddle, she would not refuse his request.”14
These ahaadeeth emphasize the great responsibility of the woman to obey her husband in all that is in obedience to Allah, for surely obedience to the husband is part of obedience to Allah. Allah has ordered the woman to be obedient to her husband and the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) praised the woman who brings happiness and pleasure to her husband. He (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,
“Marry the loving and fertile, for I will compete with the other prophets with the number of my followers.”15
This type of woman is the one through which a man would receive happiness in his home and one who will raise a righteous family. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,
“Everyone of you is a guardian, and is responsible for what is in his custody. A lady is a guardian of her husband's house and is responsible for it.”16
And Allah (subhannahu wa ta'ala) said,
“And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance.”17
By doing this, a woman can become of those truly obedient to Allah.
It must be noted that obedience to the husband is mentioned as being only in those affairs which are good, i.e. only in that which complies with the shari'ah (Laws) of Allah. So, if he orders her to pray, fast, and take care of the home, then this is all good and she should obey him in doing so. However, if he orders her with disobedience to Allah, then “There is no obedience to the creation when it involves disobedience to the Creator.”18 So if he orders her to be neglectful of her prayers or in her fasting, or he wants her to beautify herself in a way which is not permissible, or to leave the house wearing perfume etc., then she should not obey him in this as this is disobedience to Allah. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,
“No obedience for evil deeds, obedience is required only in what is good.”19
THE RIGHTEOUS WOMAN should take care of and guard her herself and her honour. Allah praised Maryam the mother of ‘Isa (alayhis salam) for possessing this great quality of chastity. From this guarding of chastity comes many other affairs.
1. Lowering the gaze. Allah has ordered both the men and the women to lower their gaze and to protect their private parts.20
2. Not leaving the house wearing perfume or displaying ornaments. Allah has ordered the woman to cover herself up in order to protect her honour and chastity. It is the practise of jaahiliyyah (ignorance) for the women to go out uncovered, and they consider this to be progress and liberation! Rather, it is from the ways of shaytaan. Allah mentions in the Qur'aan that when shaytaan whispered to Aadam and Hawwa, and they ate from the tree, their private parts became apparent to them.21 So the way of shaytaan is to make apparent and to display the ‘aurah. Every society in which open displaying of the people's private parts is prolific is an evil society and is upon the path of destruction. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said, “When a woman applies perfume and then goes about in an assembly, she is like such and such i.e. an adulteress.”22
THE RIGHTEOUS WOMAN should not be one who is given to complaining and nagging, rather she should be one who brings happiness into the home. We can take an example from the story of Ibraaheem (alayhi sallam), when he left his wife, Hajar, in Makkah. Hajar said to him, “Who has ordered you to do this?” Ibraaheem answered her, saying, “Verily, my Lord has ordered me to do this”. So she said, “If this is Allah's order, then Allah will never leave us and destroy us.” A further example can be found in the story of Ismaa'eel (alayhi sallam) and his wife. Ibraaheem continued to visit Hajar and his son Ismaa'eel, until when his son had grown up and married he visited him at his home in Makkah. He knocked on the door and found that Ismaa'eel was not home. His wife was present but she did not recognise her husband's father. Ibraaheem began to question her as to her situation and whether or not she was contented etc. She replied that they were in a period of great poverty and trials, and she began complaining about her situation. So Ibraaheem said to her, “When Ismaa'eel returns, tell him to change the outer screen (lit. veil) of his house. So when Ismaa'eel returned, his wife informed him that an old man had visited him whilst he was out and that he had asked her about her situation, to which she replied as she had replied. Then she told him of the message Ibraaheem had left. Ismaa'eel then said to his wife, “Verily, it was my father and he ordered me to divorce you.” So he divorced her and married another woman. Some time later Ibraaheem came again to visit his son and again found that he was not home. So he asked Ismaa'eel's new wife about her situation and whether or not she was content. She replied, “Alhamdulillah. Allah has given us great blessings and given us all that we need,” even though at the time she had absolutely nothing in her house. So, before Ibraaheem left he said, “Tell Ismaa'eel to keep the outer screen of his house.” When Ismaa'eel returned, his wife told him of his visitor and what he had said. Ismaa'eel said, “That was my father and he told me to keep you as my wife.”23
Note how Ibraaheem, this great Prophet of Allah, described the woman as the outer screen of the house. This is because she is the keeper and protector of the house and those affairs concerning it. Whoever enters the house does so by her permission and knowledge. The shayateen wish for the women to leave their homes in their beautification, leaving behind their clothing, so that when the people have taken their pleasure from them, then they turn away from them as if they were nothing. Rather, the woman is as Ibraaheem described her, as she is the one who takes care of the affairs of the home. A poet once said, “The mother is (like) a school. If you take care of the mother, you take care of the whole society.” The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,
“O women, you should give charity and ask for much forgiveness. For I saw you in bulk amongst the dwellers of Hell.” A wise lady among them said, “Why is it, Messenger of Allah, that our folk are in bulk in Hell?” He (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) replied, “You curse too much and are ungrateful to your husbands. If one of you has a husband who is good to you for all of his life and then you see one thing from him which displeases you, you say ‘Verily, he was never good to me at all'.”24
So, as the intimate companion of her husband, the woman must ensure to take care of these affairs, for if she is good and righteous then the whole society becomes good. But if there are conflicts and disputes in the home, then this leads to the destruction of the society.
In the Qur'aan, Allah (subhannahu wa ta'ala) mentions some examples of the righteousness of women. He (subhannahu wa ta'ala) gave the stories of four women, two of which were righteous and two who were evil. As for the pious women, they were the wife of Fir'awn and Maryam the daughter of ‘Imraan.
When the wife of Fir'awn saw Musa (alayhi sallam) in the cradle, her eyes were full of love for him. She said to Fir'awn, “A comfort of the eye for me and for you. Kill him not, perhaps he may be of benefit to us, or we may adopt him as a son.”25 So he (Fir'awn) granted her wish and Musa grew up in her household. When he became a Prophet and began calling the people to Islam, she answered this call and became a Muslim, despite the fact that she was the wife of Fir'awn - the man who claimed to be Allah Himself, (subhannahu wa ta'ala) - and despite all that she possessed through being the wife of a king; she refused that and chose to be amongst Allah's company. This is a great example of how a woman chose the Hereafter over and above all of the wealth of this world.
The example of Maryam bint ‘Imraan was that she took care of herself and her private parts in such a way as shows us the great importance of the woman's being chaste and not going out of the house unclothed ,etc.
The first example of the two evil women is that of the wife of Nuh (alayhi sallam). She used to go and tell the people of Nuh about what he was doing and planning; working and plotting against her husband.
And the example of the wife of Lut (alayhi sallam) is similar. When the two angels came to Lut, she told his people that two young men had come to her house, so the people came in an attempt to do evil to them.27
Islam has forbidden that the secrets of the household be divulged outside, and these two examples show the evil of this action. Therefore, the example of a good woman is one who is quick in doing good deeds, she takes care of her private parts and does not spread the secrets of the home. She is one who will be a caller to good, one who closes the doors which lead to evil.
From the Sunnah we have the example of Umm Salamah - the wife of the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam), the mother of the Believers. She was a woman who possessed great intellect and was of good opinion. When the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) went to make ‘Umrah in the year 6AH, the Quraish prevented him from doing so and turned him back. He (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) told his companions, who were dressed in ihraam ready for ‘Umrah, to cut their hair and slaughter their animals. They were astonished, and were hesitant to do this. He ordered them again and still they did not do as he had commanded. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) entered into the tent of Umm Salamah, unhappy and disturbed by what had happened, and he told her that he had ordered his companions to shave their heads and slaughter their animals but they did not do anything. Umm Salamah said, ‘Go yourself in the midst of your companions and cut your hair and slaughter your animal. They will follow your example'. So he did this and they all followed his example.
Look at the great intellect and good opinion of this noble lady, how she advised the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam), thereby removing his grief and concern. Similarly, the righteous woman should advise her husband in all that is good and will remove anguish and cause of concern from him.
Another example from the Sunnah of the righteousness of women is that of Umm Saleem - the wife of Abu Talhah (radiy Allahu 'anhu). Abu Talhah was a disbeliever when he came to Umm Saleem asking for her hand in marriage. She refused, saying, ‘I will only marry you if you become a Muslim'. So he became a Muslim and she made her mahr (dowry) his Islam. They were blessed with a son whose name was Abu Umayr. He was very beloved to Abu Talhah, but however after a few years he passed away. So when Abu Talhah entered upon his wife and asked ‘How is Abu Umayr?', she answered him saying ‘He is in the best of all situations'. Then she beautified herself for her husband and after he had taken pleasure from her she said ‘What do you think if a people had given another people some property to look after and they came one day to ask for their property back, do you think they have the right to do so?' Abu Talhah said ‘Yes, of course'. So Umm Saleem said ‘Verily, Allah has taken back His property'. At this Abu Talhah became very angry and said ‘You did all of this and then told me the news about my son?' So he went to the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) and told him about what had happened. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said ‘May Allah give blessings upon that night and what you did together'. They were granted a son from that very night and his name was Abdullah. Abdullah had nine other sons , all of whom had memorised the Qur'aan. This was in answer to the du'aa of the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam).
Once a guest came to the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam), so he said to his companions ‘Who will take care of my guest tonight?' one of the Ansaar said ‘I will, O Messenger of Allah'. So he went home and said to his wife ‘What do we have for food?' She said ‘We only have enough food for our children'. He said ‘Put the children to sleep whilst they are hungry. When the Prophet's guest arrives, serve him the food and put out the lamp and pretend to eat so that he does not think we are not eating'. So she obeyed her husband in this. The guest went back to the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and told him what the Ansaari and his wife had done. When the Ansaari went to the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) the next day, he (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said ‘Allah (subhannahu wa ta'ala) is Astonished at what you did last night with regards to your guest. And Allah revealed the Ayah “And those who, before them, had homes (in Al-Madina) and had adopted the Faith, - love those who emigrate to them, and have no jealousy in their breasts for that which they have been given, and give them preference over themselves, even though they were in need of that.”4
So what has preceded are some of the examples of how a woman can become amongst the most honourable and the best of creation, and thereby earn Paradise - and may Allah make us from among its people - Ameen.
FOOTNOTES
2. Suratu-Fatir (35):11.
3. Bukhaaree.
4. Tirmidhee, Nasaa'i & Ibn Maajah.
5. Saheehul-Jaami' 3407.
6. Al-Muwwatta Imaam Maalik.
7. Tirmidhee.
8. Suratul-Furqaan (25):74.
9. Saheehul-Jaami' 674.
10. Bukhaaree.
11. Bukhaaree.
12. Tirmidhee.
13. Bukhaaree & Muslim.
14. Ibn Maajah & Ahmad.
15. Abu Daawood & Nasaa'i.
16. Bukhaaree.
17. Suratul-Ahzab (33):33.
18. Related by Al-Baghawee in Sharhus-Sunnah 10:44.
19. Bukhaaree.
20. Suratu-Nur (24):30-31.
21. Suratu-TaHa (20):121.
22. Tirmidhee, Abu Daawood & Nasaa'i.
23. Bukhaaree.
24. Muslim.
25. Suratul-Qasas (28):9
26. See from Suratu- Maryam (19):16
27. See Suratu-Tahrim (66):10
28. Suratul-Hashr (59):9
Shaykh Saleem al Hilaalee
Verily Allah created us to worship Him, and He created everything in pairs (male and female) in order that life may continue and that His worship may be established. Allah says,
“And Allah did create you (Aadam) from dust, then from Nutfah (male and female discharge semen drops i.e. Aadam's offspring), then He made you pairs (male and female).”2
Both the man and the woman have obligations and duties to fulfil, each one's duties in harmony with the other's; the woman's duties complete and perfect those of the man, and the man's duties complete and perfect those of the woman. From those qualities which Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) have praised, and which are required in a believing woman in order for her to perform her duties correctly, the greatest of these is the quality of her possessing the Deen. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,
“A woman is married for four things: her wealth, her family status, her beauty and her deen. So you should marry the religious woman (otherwise) you will be a loser.”3
As for the husband, he should also be a righteous man, as the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,
“When someone with whose deen and character you are satisfied asks your daughter in marriage, accede to his request. If you do not do so, there will be temptation on Earth and extensive corruption.”4
Indeed the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) was sent to perfect the people's character, and he (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) praised the woman who possesses these noble qualities and perfect character, saying that she is to a man the best possession in this world -
“The whole world is a provision, and the best object of benefit of the world is the pious woman.”5
Allah has created the woman as a companion for the man, in order that they may live in this world performing their duties and observing Allah's commands correctly. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,
“I was sent to perfect good character,”6 and, “Among the Muslims the most perfect, as regards his faith, is the one whose character is excellent, and the best among you are those who treat their wives well.”7
In order to achieve success in this world and the Hereafter the woman must adopt this methodology of perfecting her character, beginning with those affairs concerning her home. The woman is an essential component in the building of the home in order that it may be established upon Taqwa (fear of Allah & piety). Allah says that those who believe say,
“Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes...”8
Thus, the correction of the household is the first step towards the correction of the society.
THE RIGHTEOUS WOMAN is the one who knows her responsibilities, her rights and obligations, and performs those acts which are obligatory upon her. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,
“If a woman prayed her five daily prayers, fasted in the month (of Ramadan), protected her private parts from illegal sexual intercourse, and obeyed her husband, it will be said to her: ‘Enter Paradise from whichever gate you like',”9
And he (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,
“Islam is based on (the following) five (principles): to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad (sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam) is His Messenger, to offer the prayers dutifully and perfectly, to pay Zakaat, to perform Hajj, and to observe fast during the month of Ramadhaan.”10
This is the first thing which the woman must take care of in all circumstances; whether difficulty, ease, pleasure or dislike - i.e. to perform the five obligatory pillars of Islam. Allah says, recorded in a hadeeth qudsi, “And the most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me is what I have enjoined upon him.”11
THE RIGHTEOUS WOMAN should know the rights of her husband upon her and should obey him in all that is obedience to Allah. When Mu'aadh (radiy Allahu 'anhu) came to the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) and wanted to make sajdah (prostration) to him [as an act of respect], he (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) stopped him and said, “If I were to order anyone to prostrate himself before another, I should order a woman to prostrate herself before her husband.”12 This is because of the great position of the husband with regards to his wife. He (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) also said,
“Whenever a man calls his wife to their bed but she refuses to come, letting him spend the night angry with her, she is cursed by the angels until she relents.”13
And he (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) also said,
“By the one in whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad! No woman has fulfilled her obligations to her Lord until she has fulfilled her obligations to her husband. Even if he were to ask her for herself when she is mounted in the saddle, she would not refuse his request.”14
These ahaadeeth emphasize the great responsibility of the woman to obey her husband in all that is in obedience to Allah, for surely obedience to the husband is part of obedience to Allah. Allah has ordered the woman to be obedient to her husband and the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) praised the woman who brings happiness and pleasure to her husband. He (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,
“Marry the loving and fertile, for I will compete with the other prophets with the number of my followers.”15
This type of woman is the one through which a man would receive happiness in his home and one who will raise a righteous family. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,
“Everyone of you is a guardian, and is responsible for what is in his custody. A lady is a guardian of her husband's house and is responsible for it.”16
And Allah (subhannahu wa ta'ala) said,
“And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance.”17
By doing this, a woman can become of those truly obedient to Allah.
It must be noted that obedience to the husband is mentioned as being only in those affairs which are good, i.e. only in that which complies with the shari'ah (Laws) of Allah. So, if he orders her to pray, fast, and take care of the home, then this is all good and she should obey him in doing so. However, if he orders her with disobedience to Allah, then “There is no obedience to the creation when it involves disobedience to the Creator.”18 So if he orders her to be neglectful of her prayers or in her fasting, or he wants her to beautify herself in a way which is not permissible, or to leave the house wearing perfume etc., then she should not obey him in this as this is disobedience to Allah. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,
“No obedience for evil deeds, obedience is required only in what is good.”19
THE RIGHTEOUS WOMAN should take care of and guard her herself and her honour. Allah praised Maryam the mother of ‘Isa (alayhis salam) for possessing this great quality of chastity. From this guarding of chastity comes many other affairs.
1. Lowering the gaze. Allah has ordered both the men and the women to lower their gaze and to protect their private parts.20
2. Not leaving the house wearing perfume or displaying ornaments. Allah has ordered the woman to cover herself up in order to protect her honour and chastity. It is the practise of jaahiliyyah (ignorance) for the women to go out uncovered, and they consider this to be progress and liberation! Rather, it is from the ways of shaytaan. Allah mentions in the Qur'aan that when shaytaan whispered to Aadam and Hawwa, and they ate from the tree, their private parts became apparent to them.21 So the way of shaytaan is to make apparent and to display the ‘aurah. Every society in which open displaying of the people's private parts is prolific is an evil society and is upon the path of destruction. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said, “When a woman applies perfume and then goes about in an assembly, she is like such and such i.e. an adulteress.”22
THE RIGHTEOUS WOMAN should not be one who is given to complaining and nagging, rather she should be one who brings happiness into the home. We can take an example from the story of Ibraaheem (alayhi sallam), when he left his wife, Hajar, in Makkah. Hajar said to him, “Who has ordered you to do this?” Ibraaheem answered her, saying, “Verily, my Lord has ordered me to do this”. So she said, “If this is Allah's order, then Allah will never leave us and destroy us.” A further example can be found in the story of Ismaa'eel (alayhi sallam) and his wife. Ibraaheem continued to visit Hajar and his son Ismaa'eel, until when his son had grown up and married he visited him at his home in Makkah. He knocked on the door and found that Ismaa'eel was not home. His wife was present but she did not recognise her husband's father. Ibraaheem began to question her as to her situation and whether or not she was contented etc. She replied that they were in a period of great poverty and trials, and she began complaining about her situation. So Ibraaheem said to her, “When Ismaa'eel returns, tell him to change the outer screen (lit. veil) of his house. So when Ismaa'eel returned, his wife informed him that an old man had visited him whilst he was out and that he had asked her about her situation, to which she replied as she had replied. Then she told him of the message Ibraaheem had left. Ismaa'eel then said to his wife, “Verily, it was my father and he ordered me to divorce you.” So he divorced her and married another woman. Some time later Ibraaheem came again to visit his son and again found that he was not home. So he asked Ismaa'eel's new wife about her situation and whether or not she was content. She replied, “Alhamdulillah. Allah has given us great blessings and given us all that we need,” even though at the time she had absolutely nothing in her house. So, before Ibraaheem left he said, “Tell Ismaa'eel to keep the outer screen of his house.” When Ismaa'eel returned, his wife told him of his visitor and what he had said. Ismaa'eel said, “That was my father and he told me to keep you as my wife.”23
Note how Ibraaheem, this great Prophet of Allah, described the woman as the outer screen of the house. This is because she is the keeper and protector of the house and those affairs concerning it. Whoever enters the house does so by her permission and knowledge. The shayateen wish for the women to leave their homes in their beautification, leaving behind their clothing, so that when the people have taken their pleasure from them, then they turn away from them as if they were nothing. Rather, the woman is as Ibraaheem described her, as she is the one who takes care of the affairs of the home. A poet once said, “The mother is (like) a school. If you take care of the mother, you take care of the whole society.” The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said,
“O women, you should give charity and ask for much forgiveness. For I saw you in bulk amongst the dwellers of Hell.” A wise lady among them said, “Why is it, Messenger of Allah, that our folk are in bulk in Hell?” He (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) replied, “You curse too much and are ungrateful to your husbands. If one of you has a husband who is good to you for all of his life and then you see one thing from him which displeases you, you say ‘Verily, he was never good to me at all'.”24
So, as the intimate companion of her husband, the woman must ensure to take care of these affairs, for if she is good and righteous then the whole society becomes good. But if there are conflicts and disputes in the home, then this leads to the destruction of the society.
In the Qur'aan, Allah (subhannahu wa ta'ala) mentions some examples of the righteousness of women. He (subhannahu wa ta'ala) gave the stories of four women, two of which were righteous and two who were evil. As for the pious women, they were the wife of Fir'awn and Maryam the daughter of ‘Imraan.
When the wife of Fir'awn saw Musa (alayhi sallam) in the cradle, her eyes were full of love for him. She said to Fir'awn, “A comfort of the eye for me and for you. Kill him not, perhaps he may be of benefit to us, or we may adopt him as a son.”25 So he (Fir'awn) granted her wish and Musa grew up in her household. When he became a Prophet and began calling the people to Islam, she answered this call and became a Muslim, despite the fact that she was the wife of Fir'awn - the man who claimed to be Allah Himself, (subhannahu wa ta'ala) - and despite all that she possessed through being the wife of a king; she refused that and chose to be amongst Allah's company. This is a great example of how a woman chose the Hereafter over and above all of the wealth of this world.
The example of Maryam bint ‘Imraan was that she took care of herself and her private parts in such a way as shows us the great importance of the woman's being chaste and not going out of the house unclothed ,etc.
The first example of the two evil women is that of the wife of Nuh (alayhi sallam). She used to go and tell the people of Nuh about what he was doing and planning; working and plotting against her husband.
And the example of the wife of Lut (alayhi sallam) is similar. When the two angels came to Lut, she told his people that two young men had come to her house, so the people came in an attempt to do evil to them.27
Islam has forbidden that the secrets of the household be divulged outside, and these two examples show the evil of this action. Therefore, the example of a good woman is one who is quick in doing good deeds, she takes care of her private parts and does not spread the secrets of the home. She is one who will be a caller to good, one who closes the doors which lead to evil.
From the Sunnah we have the example of Umm Salamah - the wife of the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam), the mother of the Believers. She was a woman who possessed great intellect and was of good opinion. When the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) went to make ‘Umrah in the year 6AH, the Quraish prevented him from doing so and turned him back. He (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) told his companions, who were dressed in ihraam ready for ‘Umrah, to cut their hair and slaughter their animals. They were astonished, and were hesitant to do this. He ordered them again and still they did not do as he had commanded. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) entered into the tent of Umm Salamah, unhappy and disturbed by what had happened, and he told her that he had ordered his companions to shave their heads and slaughter their animals but they did not do anything. Umm Salamah said, ‘Go yourself in the midst of your companions and cut your hair and slaughter your animal. They will follow your example'. So he did this and they all followed his example.
Look at the great intellect and good opinion of this noble lady, how she advised the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam), thereby removing his grief and concern. Similarly, the righteous woman should advise her husband in all that is good and will remove anguish and cause of concern from him.
Another example from the Sunnah of the righteousness of women is that of Umm Saleem - the wife of Abu Talhah (radiy Allahu 'anhu). Abu Talhah was a disbeliever when he came to Umm Saleem asking for her hand in marriage. She refused, saying, ‘I will only marry you if you become a Muslim'. So he became a Muslim and she made her mahr (dowry) his Islam. They were blessed with a son whose name was Abu Umayr. He was very beloved to Abu Talhah, but however after a few years he passed away. So when Abu Talhah entered upon his wife and asked ‘How is Abu Umayr?', she answered him saying ‘He is in the best of all situations'. Then she beautified herself for her husband and after he had taken pleasure from her she said ‘What do you think if a people had given another people some property to look after and they came one day to ask for their property back, do you think they have the right to do so?' Abu Talhah said ‘Yes, of course'. So Umm Saleem said ‘Verily, Allah has taken back His property'. At this Abu Talhah became very angry and said ‘You did all of this and then told me the news about my son?' So he went to the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) and told him about what had happened. The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said ‘May Allah give blessings upon that night and what you did together'. They were granted a son from that very night and his name was Abdullah. Abdullah had nine other sons , all of whom had memorised the Qur'aan. This was in answer to the du'aa of the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam).
Once a guest came to the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam), so he said to his companions ‘Who will take care of my guest tonight?' one of the Ansaar said ‘I will, O Messenger of Allah'. So he went home and said to his wife ‘What do we have for food?' She said ‘We only have enough food for our children'. He said ‘Put the children to sleep whilst they are hungry. When the Prophet's guest arrives, serve him the food and put out the lamp and pretend to eat so that he does not think we are not eating'. So she obeyed her husband in this. The guest went back to the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and told him what the Ansaari and his wife had done. When the Ansaari went to the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) the next day, he (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said ‘Allah (subhannahu wa ta'ala) is Astonished at what you did last night with regards to your guest. And Allah revealed the Ayah “And those who, before them, had homes (in Al-Madina) and had adopted the Faith, - love those who emigrate to them, and have no jealousy in their breasts for that which they have been given, and give them preference over themselves, even though they were in need of that.”4
So what has preceded are some of the examples of how a woman can become amongst the most honourable and the best of creation, and thereby earn Paradise - and may Allah make us from among its people - Ameen.
FOOTNOTES
2. Suratu-Fatir (35):11.
3. Bukhaaree.
4. Tirmidhee, Nasaa'i & Ibn Maajah.
5. Saheehul-Jaami' 3407.
6. Al-Muwwatta Imaam Maalik.
7. Tirmidhee.
8. Suratul-Furqaan (25):74.
9. Saheehul-Jaami' 674.
10. Bukhaaree.
11. Bukhaaree.
12. Tirmidhee.
13. Bukhaaree & Muslim.
14. Ibn Maajah & Ahmad.
15. Abu Daawood & Nasaa'i.
16. Bukhaaree.
17. Suratul-Ahzab (33):33.
18. Related by Al-Baghawee in Sharhus-Sunnah 10:44.
19. Bukhaaree.
20. Suratu-Nur (24):30-31.
21. Suratu-TaHa (20):121.
22. Tirmidhee, Abu Daawood & Nasaa'i.
23. Bukhaaree.
24. Muslim.
25. Suratul-Qasas (28):9
26. See from Suratu- Maryam (19):16
27. See Suratu-Tahrim (66):10
28. Suratul-Hashr (59):9
The age of distinction (7-10) and rules of privacy
From the book:
Raising Children according to the Qur'aan and Sunnah
By: Faramarz bin Muhammad Rahbar
Raising children is a serious responsibility as that of a shepherd. Just as a shepherd must be careful of the well-being of his flock, parents must be constantly alert, taking care that their children do not stray and fall victim to the wolves.
Parents must teach their children between the ages of seven and ten the rules of privacy. Allah mentions in the qur'an:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِيَسْتَأْذِنكُمُ الَّذِينَ مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَبْلُغُوا الْحُلُمَ مِنكُمْ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ مِن قَبْلِ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ وَحِينَ تَضَعُونَ ثِيَابَكُم مِّنَ الظَّهِيرَةِ وَمِن بَعْدِ صَلَاةِ الْعِشَاء ثَلَاثُ عَوْرَاتٍ لَّكُمْ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَا عَلَيْهِمْ جُنَاحٌ بَعْدَهُنَّ طَوَّافُونَ عَلَيْكُم بَعْضُكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
وَإِذَا بَلَغَ الْأَطْفَالُ مِنكُمُ الْحُلُمَ فَلْيَسْتَأْذِنُوا كَمَا اسْتَأْذَنَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
"O you who believe! Let your legal slaves and slave-girls, and those among you who have not come to the age of puberty ask your permission (before they come to your presence) on three occasions; before Fajr (morning) prayer, and while you put off your clothes for the noonday (rest), and after the 'Ishâ' (late-night) prayer. (These) three times are of privacy for you, other than these times there is no sin on you or on them to move about, attending (helping) you each other. Thus Allâh makes clear the Ayât (the Verses of this Qur'ân, showing proofs for the legal aspects of permission for visits, etc.) to you. And Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise.And when the children among you come to puberty, then let them (also) ask for permission, as those senior to them (in age). Thus Allâh makes clear His Ayât (Commandments and legal obligations) for you. And Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise." [Surah an-Nur 24:58-59]
As mentioned in the aforementioned verse, there are three times at which even young children must ask permission before they enter their parent's bedroom: before the morning prayer, when the parents undress to rest at noon, and after the evening prayer. Children must be instructed to lnock and then gain permission before entering at these times. It must be stressed that mere knocking, followed by immediate entrance, is not acceptable. Parents must explain to the children that such an action is no different from barging in, for it does not give the parents time to ready themselves, if needed.
It is essential for parents to mention to their children at this age to stop looking at and mixing with members of the opposite sex. Muslim boys who reach the age of puberty are considered men and are not allowed to intermingle with or intentionally stare or look at any women, except those who are forbidden to them in marriage, as enumerated in the qur'an. (See sura Nisa 4:23).
The exceptions stated in the qur'an are specified as the following: their mothers, grandmothers, step-mothers, daughters, granddaughters, sisters, paternal aunts, maternal aunts, brother's and sister's daughters, mothers and sisters nursing, mothers-in-law, step-daughters and daughters-in-law. In arabic, these people are referred to as "mahram". Although in general it is forbidden for muslim men to look at any woman other than those for whom he is a mahram, if there is a valid reason one is permitted to do so. Such cases include seeing a woman's face in the company of her relatives to choose her in marriage, examining a woman for medical reasons, helping a woman in danger, looking at or searching a woman for security purposes (in muslim countries this is done by women) or questioning a woman in court. Although there is no blame on children who have not reached puberty (normally under ten) to look at women, the age of distinction is a good time to prepare them for when they do reach the designated age and to teach them the rules of sexual segregation and modesty, getting them accustomed to the concept. Muslims, both men and women, are ordered to be modest. Allah commands
:قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا
يَصْنَعُونَوَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاء بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَاء بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُنَّ أَوِ التَّابِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُوْلِي الْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَى عَوْرَاتِ النِّسَاء وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allâh is All-Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like palms of hands or one eye or both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc.), and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc.) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husband's sons, their brothers or their brother's sons, or their sister's sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islâm), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allâh to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful." [Surah an-Nur 24:30-31]
The commandment for lowering the gaze or restraining the eyes does not mean that people should always walk with their eyes to the ground. What is prohibited, however, is casting a second look or staring at an attractive face, even at first site. Jareer narrated:"I asked the prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) what should I do if I happen to see something by chance, he replied, 'Turn the eyes away.'" [Muslim, Ahmad, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasai - Saheeh]
And the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) told Ali not to cast a second look, for the first look is pardonable but the second is prohibited. As mentioned earlier, when there is intention of marriage, a man is allowed to look at a woman (and vise - versa). The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) instructed a man to look at the prospective bride before marrying her because "that will enhance love and mutual regard between you." (See at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasai and Ibn Majah - hasan)
Islaam specifies those parts of the body which the male and female must cover in the presence of members of the opposite sex. For men, it is the area between the navel and the knees, and it has been enjoined that one should neither uncover this part of himself before another nor look at this part of someone else. (According to the saheeh hadiths, it is also forbidden for men to wear a garment which extends below the ankles, although this is permissable for women. See Sunan Abu Dawud, vol.3 pg. 1139)In the presence of men, women must cover their bodoes completely, and Islamic scholars hold two different opinions regarding the subject of hijab (covering). The maliki and Hanafi position allows women to expose their face and hands to male strangers, while the hanbali and ash-Shafi'i scholars state that the whole of the woman's body, including the face and hands must be covered. (See Islaamic ruling regarding women's dress, pg. 16)It must be noted that both opinions are supported by hadeeths. Most scholars are in agreement, however that in case one fears evil intentions by men, a woman should cover her face. It is related that Aisha said:"We, the women, were with the prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) in ihram [for hajj], and some riders passed by us. So, when they appeared before us, we drew our outer garments from the head in front of the face, and when they passed us, we uncovered our faces." [Abu Dawud, ibn Majjah and Ahmad - Saheeh]Also women are not allowed to wear transparent or tight fitting clothes. Indeed the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) said:"There will be among the last of my community women dressed yet undressed... Cure them for verily, they are cursed." [At-Tabarani - Saheeh]
And in another hadeeth, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) told Usamah bin Zaid:"Order your wife to wear a [heavy] slip under the clothes, for verily I fear that it might reveal the size and shape of her body." [Ahmad, al-Bayhaqi and al-Hakim - Saheeh]
Just as Islam has clearly defined the rules concerning proper behavior between members of the opposite sex, it has also set regulations regarding interaction between members of the same sex. In locker rooms in the west, boys usually undress completely in front of other boys or men - an act forbidden in Islam. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) forbade men to look at the awrah of other men and forbade women to look at the awrah of other women. The awrah includes the private area, which is forbidden to be seen or uncovered except in front of the husband or wife.It is important for girls to know that no man other one's husband or mahram relative is allowed to be alone with a woman, nor is he allowed to touch any part of her body.Uqbah bin Amir stated:
"Once Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) said, 'Do not visit women who are outside the lawful limits for you to visit, 'a man from the Ansar asked, 'O Allah's Messenger, what about [visiting] in-laws?' To that, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) replied, 'In-laws are death.'" [Bukhari, Muslim and at-Tirmidhi]
And Aisha reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) accepted the oath of allegiance from women verbally, without taking their hands into his own hand."He never touched the hand of a woman who was not married to him." [Bukhari]
Elderly women past the prospect of marriage may lay aside their outter garments provided they do not make a display of themselves, although, as mentioned in the qur'an (see surah an-Nur 24:60) it is preferable even for them to observe modesty in dress. Regrettably, modest islamic dress, which serves as protection for families, is viewed today as a mark of oppression and extermism, while discarding it is viewed as a sign of progress. In fact, muslims who observe the islamic dress code are often labeled "fundamentalist", while those who do not are deemed "enlightened". Unfortunately, many muslim women have fallen for this philosophy and are so embarrassed to observe the Islamic dress code. Therefore, parents must correct these common misconceptions by explaining the error of this attitude, while stressing the necessity for hijab. And they must do their best to implement such islamic awareness and correct dress code in their families. Muslim teenagers must be taught to observe haya* when it comes to any issue related to sex.
* This term encompasses a large number of concepts which are to be taken together; among them are self respect, modesty, bashfulness and reservation about the fitness or correctness of an action, etc.
From the book:
Raising Children according to the Qur'aan and Sunnah
By: Faramarz bin Muhammad Rahbar
Raising children is a serious responsibility as that of a shepherd. Just as a shepherd must be careful of the well-being of his flock, parents must be constantly alert, taking care that their children do not stray and fall victim to the wolves.
Parents must teach their children between the ages of seven and ten the rules of privacy. Allah mentions in the qur'an:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِيَسْتَأْذِنكُمُ الَّذِينَ مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَبْلُغُوا الْحُلُمَ مِنكُمْ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ مِن قَبْلِ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ وَحِينَ تَضَعُونَ ثِيَابَكُم مِّنَ الظَّهِيرَةِ وَمِن بَعْدِ صَلَاةِ الْعِشَاء ثَلَاثُ عَوْرَاتٍ لَّكُمْ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَا عَلَيْهِمْ جُنَاحٌ بَعْدَهُنَّ طَوَّافُونَ عَلَيْكُم بَعْضُكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
وَإِذَا بَلَغَ الْأَطْفَالُ مِنكُمُ الْحُلُمَ فَلْيَسْتَأْذِنُوا كَمَا اسْتَأْذَنَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
"O you who believe! Let your legal slaves and slave-girls, and those among you who have not come to the age of puberty ask your permission (before they come to your presence) on three occasions; before Fajr (morning) prayer, and while you put off your clothes for the noonday (rest), and after the 'Ishâ' (late-night) prayer. (These) three times are of privacy for you, other than these times there is no sin on you or on them to move about, attending (helping) you each other. Thus Allâh makes clear the Ayât (the Verses of this Qur'ân, showing proofs for the legal aspects of permission for visits, etc.) to you. And Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise.And when the children among you come to puberty, then let them (also) ask for permission, as those senior to them (in age). Thus Allâh makes clear His Ayât (Commandments and legal obligations) for you. And Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise." [Surah an-Nur 24:58-59]
As mentioned in the aforementioned verse, there are three times at which even young children must ask permission before they enter their parent's bedroom: before the morning prayer, when the parents undress to rest at noon, and after the evening prayer. Children must be instructed to lnock and then gain permission before entering at these times. It must be stressed that mere knocking, followed by immediate entrance, is not acceptable. Parents must explain to the children that such an action is no different from barging in, for it does not give the parents time to ready themselves, if needed.
It is essential for parents to mention to their children at this age to stop looking at and mixing with members of the opposite sex. Muslim boys who reach the age of puberty are considered men and are not allowed to intermingle with or intentionally stare or look at any women, except those who are forbidden to them in marriage, as enumerated in the qur'an. (See sura Nisa 4:23).
The exceptions stated in the qur'an are specified as the following: their mothers, grandmothers, step-mothers, daughters, granddaughters, sisters, paternal aunts, maternal aunts, brother's and sister's daughters, mothers and sisters nursing, mothers-in-law, step-daughters and daughters-in-law. In arabic, these people are referred to as "mahram". Although in general it is forbidden for muslim men to look at any woman other than those for whom he is a mahram, if there is a valid reason one is permitted to do so. Such cases include seeing a woman's face in the company of her relatives to choose her in marriage, examining a woman for medical reasons, helping a woman in danger, looking at or searching a woman for security purposes (in muslim countries this is done by women) or questioning a woman in court. Although there is no blame on children who have not reached puberty (normally under ten) to look at women, the age of distinction is a good time to prepare them for when they do reach the designated age and to teach them the rules of sexual segregation and modesty, getting them accustomed to the concept. Muslims, both men and women, are ordered to be modest. Allah commands
:قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا
يَصْنَعُونَوَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاء بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَاء بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُنَّ أَوِ التَّابِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُوْلِي الْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَى عَوْرَاتِ النِّسَاء وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allâh is All-Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like palms of hands or one eye or both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc.), and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms, etc.) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husband's sons, their brothers or their brother's sons, or their sister's sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islâm), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allâh to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful." [Surah an-Nur 24:30-31]
The commandment for lowering the gaze or restraining the eyes does not mean that people should always walk with their eyes to the ground. What is prohibited, however, is casting a second look or staring at an attractive face, even at first site. Jareer narrated:"I asked the prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) what should I do if I happen to see something by chance, he replied, 'Turn the eyes away.'" [Muslim, Ahmad, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasai - Saheeh]
And the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) told Ali not to cast a second look, for the first look is pardonable but the second is prohibited. As mentioned earlier, when there is intention of marriage, a man is allowed to look at a woman (and vise - versa). The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) instructed a man to look at the prospective bride before marrying her because "that will enhance love and mutual regard between you." (See at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasai and Ibn Majah - hasan)
Islaam specifies those parts of the body which the male and female must cover in the presence of members of the opposite sex. For men, it is the area between the navel and the knees, and it has been enjoined that one should neither uncover this part of himself before another nor look at this part of someone else. (According to the saheeh hadiths, it is also forbidden for men to wear a garment which extends below the ankles, although this is permissable for women. See Sunan Abu Dawud, vol.3 pg. 1139)In the presence of men, women must cover their bodoes completely, and Islamic scholars hold two different opinions regarding the subject of hijab (covering). The maliki and Hanafi position allows women to expose their face and hands to male strangers, while the hanbali and ash-Shafi'i scholars state that the whole of the woman's body, including the face and hands must be covered. (See Islaamic ruling regarding women's dress, pg. 16)It must be noted that both opinions are supported by hadeeths. Most scholars are in agreement, however that in case one fears evil intentions by men, a woman should cover her face. It is related that Aisha said:"We, the women, were with the prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) in ihram [for hajj], and some riders passed by us. So, when they appeared before us, we drew our outer garments from the head in front of the face, and when they passed us, we uncovered our faces." [Abu Dawud, ibn Majjah and Ahmad - Saheeh]Also women are not allowed to wear transparent or tight fitting clothes. Indeed the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) said:"There will be among the last of my community women dressed yet undressed... Cure them for verily, they are cursed." [At-Tabarani - Saheeh]
And in another hadeeth, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) told Usamah bin Zaid:"Order your wife to wear a [heavy] slip under the clothes, for verily I fear that it might reveal the size and shape of her body." [Ahmad, al-Bayhaqi and al-Hakim - Saheeh]
Just as Islam has clearly defined the rules concerning proper behavior between members of the opposite sex, it has also set regulations regarding interaction between members of the same sex. In locker rooms in the west, boys usually undress completely in front of other boys or men - an act forbidden in Islam. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) forbade men to look at the awrah of other men and forbade women to look at the awrah of other women. The awrah includes the private area, which is forbidden to be seen or uncovered except in front of the husband or wife.It is important for girls to know that no man other one's husband or mahram relative is allowed to be alone with a woman, nor is he allowed to touch any part of her body.Uqbah bin Amir stated:
"Once Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) said, 'Do not visit women who are outside the lawful limits for you to visit, 'a man from the Ansar asked, 'O Allah's Messenger, what about [visiting] in-laws?' To that, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) replied, 'In-laws are death.'" [Bukhari, Muslim and at-Tirmidhi]
And Aisha reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa salaam) accepted the oath of allegiance from women verbally, without taking their hands into his own hand."He never touched the hand of a woman who was not married to him." [Bukhari]
Elderly women past the prospect of marriage may lay aside their outter garments provided they do not make a display of themselves, although, as mentioned in the qur'an (see surah an-Nur 24:60) it is preferable even for them to observe modesty in dress. Regrettably, modest islamic dress, which serves as protection for families, is viewed today as a mark of oppression and extermism, while discarding it is viewed as a sign of progress. In fact, muslims who observe the islamic dress code are often labeled "fundamentalist", while those who do not are deemed "enlightened". Unfortunately, many muslim women have fallen for this philosophy and are so embarrassed to observe the Islamic dress code. Therefore, parents must correct these common misconceptions by explaining the error of this attitude, while stressing the necessity for hijab. And they must do their best to implement such islamic awareness and correct dress code in their families. Muslim teenagers must be taught to observe haya* when it comes to any issue related to sex.
* This term encompasses a large number of concepts which are to be taken together; among them are self respect, modesty, bashfulness and reservation about the fitness or correctness of an action, etc.
The Status of Woman in the Muslim Community (Ummah)
The Status of Woman in the Muslim Community (Ummah)
By Shaykh Abdul-Azeez ibn Baaz
The status of the Muslim woman in Islaam is a very noble and lofty one, and her effect is very great in the life of every Muslim. Indeed, the Muslim woman is the initial teacher in the building of a righteous society, providing she follows the guidance from the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah[1] of His Prophet , since adherence to the Qur'aan and the Sunnah distances every Muslim - male or female - from being misguided in any matter. The misguidance that the various nations suffer from, and their being deviant, does not come about except by being far away from the path of Allaah - the Most High, the Most Perfect - and from what His Prophets and Messengers, may Allaah's peace be upon them all, came with. The Prophet said: "I am leaving behind me two matters, you will not go astray as long as you cling to them both, the Book of Allaah and my Sunnah."[2]
The great importance of Muslim woman's role - whether as wife, sister or daughter, and the rights that are due to her and the obligations due from her - have been explained in the purified Sunnah.The secret of her importance lies in the tremendous burden and responsibility that is placed on her, and the difficulties that she has to shoulder - responsibilities and difficulties some, which not even a man bears. This is why from the most important obligation upon a person is to show gratitude to the mother, and kindness and good companionship with her. And in this matter, she is to be given precedence over and above the father. Allaah - the most High - says: "And We have enjoined upon man to be dutiful and good to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness upon weakness and hardship upon hardship, and his weaning is in two years. Show gratitude and thanks to Me and to your parents. Unto Me is the final destination." [Soorah Luqmaan 31/14]
Allaah - the Most High - said: "And We have enjoined upon man to be dutiful and kind to his parents. His mother bears him with hardship, and she brings him forth with hardship. And the bearing and the weaning of him is thirty months." [Soorah al-Ahqaaf 41/15]
A man came to Allaah's Messenger and said: O Messenger of Allaah! Who from amongst mankind warrants the best companionship from me? He replied: "Your mother." The man asked: Then who? So he replied: "Your mother". The man then asked: Then who? So the Prophet replied again: "Your mother." The man then asked: then who? So he replied: "Then your father." So this necessitates that the mother is given three times the likes of kindness and good treatment than the father.[3]
As regards to the wife, then her status and her effect in making the soul tranquil and serene, has been clearly shown in the noble ayah (verse), in His - the Most High's saying: "And from amongst His Signs is this: That He created from you wives from amongst yourselves, so that you may find serenity and tranquility in them. And He has put between you love and compassion. Indeed, in this are signs for those who reflect." [Soorah Ar-Rum 30/21] Al-Haafith Ibn Katheer (d.774H) - rahimahullaah (Allaah have mercy upon him)- said, whilst explaining the term mawaddah means love and affection, and ar-rahmah means compassion and piety - "since a man takes the hand of a woman either due to love for her, or because of compassion and piety for her, by giving to her a child from himself…"[4]
And the unique stance that the Prophet's wife Khadeejah took, had a huge effect in calming and reassuring Allaah's Messenger (upon whom be peace) when the angel Jibreel (Gabriel - peace be upon him)- first came to him in the cave of Hiraa. So the Prophet returned to his wife Khadeejah with the first Revelation and with this his heart trembling and beating severely, and so he said to her: "Cover me! Cover me!" So they covered him until his fear was over, after which he told Khadeejah - everything that had happened, and said: 'I fear that something may happen to me." So she said to him: "Never! By Allah! Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good ties with relations, you help the poor and the destitute, you serve your guests generously and assist those who have been afflicted with calamities."[5]
And do not forget about Aaishah and her great effect. Since even the great Sahaabah (Companions) used to take knowledge of Hadeeths (prophetic narrations) from her, and many of the Sahaabiyaat (female companions) learnt the various rulings pertaining to women's issues from her…And I have no doubt that my mother - may Allaah shower His mercy upon her - had a tremendous effect upon me, and has a great excellence over me, in encouraging me to study; and she assists me in it. May Allaah greatly increase her reward and reward her with the best of rewards for what she did for me.And there is no doubt also, the house in which there is kindness, gentleness, love and care, along with the correct Islamic tarbiyah (education and cultivation) will greatly affect the man. So he will become - if Allaah wills - successful in his affairs and in any matter - whether it be seeking knowledge, trading, earning a living, or other than this. So it is Allaah Alone that I ask to grant success and to guide us all to that which he loves and is pleased with. And may the prayers of peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his Family, his companions and his followers.
Footnotes:
[1] The word 'Sunnah' means the 'legal way or ways, orders, acts of worship and statements of the Prophet , that have become models to be followed by the Muslims'.
[2] This hadeeth is hasan (good): Related by Maalik in al-Muwattaa (2/899) and al-Haakim (1/93), from Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him. It was authenticated by al-Albaanee in as-Saheehah (no.1871).
[3] Authentic: Related by al-Bukhari (no.59710) and Muslim (7/2), from Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him.
[4] Tafseer Qur'aanul-Adheem (3/4439) of Ibn Katheer
[5] Related by al-Bukhaari (1/22) and Muslim (1/139), from the lengthy narration of Aaishah (may Allaah be pleased with her).
By Shaykh Abdul-Azeez ibn Baaz
The status of the Muslim woman in Islaam is a very noble and lofty one, and her effect is very great in the life of every Muslim. Indeed, the Muslim woman is the initial teacher in the building of a righteous society, providing she follows the guidance from the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah[1] of His Prophet , since adherence to the Qur'aan and the Sunnah distances every Muslim - male or female - from being misguided in any matter. The misguidance that the various nations suffer from, and their being deviant, does not come about except by being far away from the path of Allaah - the Most High, the Most Perfect - and from what His Prophets and Messengers, may Allaah's peace be upon them all, came with. The Prophet said: "I am leaving behind me two matters, you will not go astray as long as you cling to them both, the Book of Allaah and my Sunnah."[2]
The great importance of Muslim woman's role - whether as wife, sister or daughter, and the rights that are due to her and the obligations due from her - have been explained in the purified Sunnah.The secret of her importance lies in the tremendous burden and responsibility that is placed on her, and the difficulties that she has to shoulder - responsibilities and difficulties some, which not even a man bears. This is why from the most important obligation upon a person is to show gratitude to the mother, and kindness and good companionship with her. And in this matter, she is to be given precedence over and above the father. Allaah - the most High - says: "And We have enjoined upon man to be dutiful and good to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness upon weakness and hardship upon hardship, and his weaning is in two years. Show gratitude and thanks to Me and to your parents. Unto Me is the final destination." [Soorah Luqmaan 31/14]
Allaah - the Most High - said: "And We have enjoined upon man to be dutiful and kind to his parents. His mother bears him with hardship, and she brings him forth with hardship. And the bearing and the weaning of him is thirty months." [Soorah al-Ahqaaf 41/15]
A man came to Allaah's Messenger and said: O Messenger of Allaah! Who from amongst mankind warrants the best companionship from me? He replied: "Your mother." The man asked: Then who? So he replied: "Your mother". The man then asked: Then who? So the Prophet replied again: "Your mother." The man then asked: then who? So he replied: "Then your father." So this necessitates that the mother is given three times the likes of kindness and good treatment than the father.[3]
As regards to the wife, then her status and her effect in making the soul tranquil and serene, has been clearly shown in the noble ayah (verse), in His - the Most High's saying: "And from amongst His Signs is this: That He created from you wives from amongst yourselves, so that you may find serenity and tranquility in them. And He has put between you love and compassion. Indeed, in this are signs for those who reflect." [Soorah Ar-Rum 30/21] Al-Haafith Ibn Katheer (d.774H) - rahimahullaah (Allaah have mercy upon him)- said, whilst explaining the term mawaddah means love and affection, and ar-rahmah means compassion and piety - "since a man takes the hand of a woman either due to love for her, or because of compassion and piety for her, by giving to her a child from himself…"[4]
And the unique stance that the Prophet's wife Khadeejah took, had a huge effect in calming and reassuring Allaah's Messenger (upon whom be peace) when the angel Jibreel (Gabriel - peace be upon him)- first came to him in the cave of Hiraa. So the Prophet returned to his wife Khadeejah with the first Revelation and with this his heart trembling and beating severely, and so he said to her: "Cover me! Cover me!" So they covered him until his fear was over, after which he told Khadeejah - everything that had happened, and said: 'I fear that something may happen to me." So she said to him: "Never! By Allah! Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good ties with relations, you help the poor and the destitute, you serve your guests generously and assist those who have been afflicted with calamities."[5]
And do not forget about Aaishah and her great effect. Since even the great Sahaabah (Companions) used to take knowledge of Hadeeths (prophetic narrations) from her, and many of the Sahaabiyaat (female companions) learnt the various rulings pertaining to women's issues from her…And I have no doubt that my mother - may Allaah shower His mercy upon her - had a tremendous effect upon me, and has a great excellence over me, in encouraging me to study; and she assists me in it. May Allaah greatly increase her reward and reward her with the best of rewards for what she did for me.And there is no doubt also, the house in which there is kindness, gentleness, love and care, along with the correct Islamic tarbiyah (education and cultivation) will greatly affect the man. So he will become - if Allaah wills - successful in his affairs and in any matter - whether it be seeking knowledge, trading, earning a living, or other than this. So it is Allaah Alone that I ask to grant success and to guide us all to that which he loves and is pleased with. And may the prayers of peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his Family, his companions and his followers.
Footnotes:
[1] The word 'Sunnah' means the 'legal way or ways, orders, acts of worship and statements of the Prophet , that have become models to be followed by the Muslims'.
[2] This hadeeth is hasan (good): Related by Maalik in al-Muwattaa (2/899) and al-Haakim (1/93), from Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him. It was authenticated by al-Albaanee in as-Saheehah (no.1871).
[3] Authentic: Related by al-Bukhari (no.59710) and Muslim (7/2), from Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him.
[4] Tafseer Qur'aanul-Adheem (3/4439) of Ibn Katheer
[5] Related by al-Bukhaari (1/22) and Muslim (1/139), from the lengthy narration of Aaishah (may Allaah be pleased with her).
Allahu Al Musta'an
Signs of weak Emaan:
1) Committing sins and not feeling any guilt.
2) Having a hard heart and no desire to read the Quraan.
3) Feeling lazy to do good deeds, e.g. being late for salaat.
4) Neglecting the Sunnah.
5) Having mood swings, for instance being upset about petty things and being bothered and irritated most of the time.
6) Not feeling anything when hearing verses from the Quraan, for instance when Allah warns us of punishments and his promise of glad tidings.
7) Finding difficulty in remembring Allah and making zikr (rememberence of Allah).
8) Not feeling bad when things are done against the Shariah.
9) Having a desire for status.
10) Being mean and miserly, i.e. not wanting to part with health.
11) Ordering to do good deeds when we are not practising them ourselves.
12) Feeling pleased when things are not progressing for others.
13) People bothering about whether something is haram or halal only; and not avoiding makhru (not recommended) things.
14) Making fun of people who do simple good deeds, like cleaning the mosque.
15) When not feeling concerned about the situation of Muslims.
16) Not feeling the responsibility to do something to promote Islam.
17) Being unable to deal with calamities, for instance crying and yelling in funerals.
18) Liking to argue just for the sake of arguing without any proof.
19) Becoming engrossed and very involved for dunyah, i.e. wordly things, for instance feeling bad when losing something in terms of material wealth.
20) Becoming engrossed and obsessive in ourselves
LISTED BELOW ARE WAYS TO INCREASE OUR EMAAN:
1) Recitation and pondering on the meanings of the Quraan. Tranquility then descends and our heart becomes soft. To get optimum benefit, remind ourselves that Allah is speaking to us. People are described in different categories in the Quraan; think in which of them do we find ourselves
2)Realise the greatness of Allah. Everything is under his control. There are signs in everything we see that points us to his greatness. Everythings happen according to his permission. Allah keeps track and looks after everything, even a black ant on a blact rock ina dark moonless night.
3) To make an effort to gain knowledge, at least the basic things in daily life e.g. how to make the wudu properly. To know the meaning behind Allah's name and attributes. People who have taqwah are those who have knowledge.
4) To attend gatherings where Allah is remembered. In such gatherings we are surrounded by angels.
5) We have to increase our good deeds. One good deed leads to another good deed. Someone who gives charity, Allah will make way for him or her to do good deeds easy for that person. Good deeds must be done continuously, not in spurts.
6) We must fear a miserable end of our life; the rememderance of death is the destroyer of pleasures
7) To remember the different levels of akhirah, for instance when we are put in our graves, when we are jugded, whether we are in paradise or hell.
8) Make duah, realise that we need Allah. Be humble. Not to have much hope for wordly things in this life
9) Our love for Subhanahu Wa Ta'Allah must be shown in actons. We must hope Allah will accept our prayers, and be in constant fear that we do wrong. At night before going to sleep, we must think what good did we do during the day.
10) Realise the effects of sins and disobediance- ones imaan is increased with good deeds and our imaan is decreased by bad deeds. Everything that happens is because Allah wanted it. When calamity befalls us- it is also from Allah. It is a direct result of our disobediance to Allah.
1) Committing sins and not feeling any guilt.
2) Having a hard heart and no desire to read the Quraan.
3) Feeling lazy to do good deeds, e.g. being late for salaat.
4) Neglecting the Sunnah.
5) Having mood swings, for instance being upset about petty things and being bothered and irritated most of the time.
6) Not feeling anything when hearing verses from the Quraan, for instance when Allah warns us of punishments and his promise of glad tidings.
7) Finding difficulty in remembring Allah and making zikr (rememberence of Allah).
8) Not feeling bad when things are done against the Shariah.
9) Having a desire for status.
10) Being mean and miserly, i.e. not wanting to part with health.
11) Ordering to do good deeds when we are not practising them ourselves.
12) Feeling pleased when things are not progressing for others.
13) People bothering about whether something is haram or halal only; and not avoiding makhru (not recommended) things.
14) Making fun of people who do simple good deeds, like cleaning the mosque.
15) When not feeling concerned about the situation of Muslims.
16) Not feeling the responsibility to do something to promote Islam.
17) Being unable to deal with calamities, for instance crying and yelling in funerals.
18) Liking to argue just for the sake of arguing without any proof.
19) Becoming engrossed and very involved for dunyah, i.e. wordly things, for instance feeling bad when losing something in terms of material wealth.
20) Becoming engrossed and obsessive in ourselves
LISTED BELOW ARE WAYS TO INCREASE OUR EMAAN:
1) Recitation and pondering on the meanings of the Quraan. Tranquility then descends and our heart becomes soft. To get optimum benefit, remind ourselves that Allah is speaking to us. People are described in different categories in the Quraan; think in which of them do we find ourselves
2)Realise the greatness of Allah. Everything is under his control. There are signs in everything we see that points us to his greatness. Everythings happen according to his permission. Allah keeps track and looks after everything, even a black ant on a blact rock ina dark moonless night.
3) To make an effort to gain knowledge, at least the basic things in daily life e.g. how to make the wudu properly. To know the meaning behind Allah's name and attributes. People who have taqwah are those who have knowledge.
4) To attend gatherings where Allah is remembered. In such gatherings we are surrounded by angels.
5) We have to increase our good deeds. One good deed leads to another good deed. Someone who gives charity, Allah will make way for him or her to do good deeds easy for that person. Good deeds must be done continuously, not in spurts.
6) We must fear a miserable end of our life; the rememderance of death is the destroyer of pleasures
7) To remember the different levels of akhirah, for instance when we are put in our graves, when we are jugded, whether we are in paradise or hell.
8) Make duah, realise that we need Allah. Be humble. Not to have much hope for wordly things in this life
9) Our love for Subhanahu Wa Ta'Allah must be shown in actons. We must hope Allah will accept our prayers, and be in constant fear that we do wrong. At night before going to sleep, we must think what good did we do during the day.
10) Realise the effects of sins and disobediance- ones imaan is increased with good deeds and our imaan is decreased by bad deeds. Everything that happens is because Allah wanted it. When calamity befalls us- it is also from Allah. It is a direct result of our disobediance to Allah.
Wednesday 14 May 2008
Mu'aadh ibn Jabal,
(radi' Allaahu 'anhu)
said:
"Knowledge is a comforting friend in times of loneliness,
it is the best companion during travels,
and it is the inner friend who speaks to you in your privacy.
Knowledge is the discerning proof of what is right and what is wrong,
and it is the positive force that will help you surmount the trials of comfort, as well as those of hardships.
Knowledge is your most powerful sword against your enemy,
and finally,
it is your most dignifying raiment in the company of your close companions."
(radi' Allaahu 'anhu)
said:
"Knowledge is a comforting friend in times of loneliness,
it is the best companion during travels,
and it is the inner friend who speaks to you in your privacy.
Knowledge is the discerning proof of what is right and what is wrong,
and it is the positive force that will help you surmount the trials of comfort, as well as those of hardships.
Knowledge is your most powerful sword against your enemy,
and finally,
it is your most dignifying raiment in the company of your close companions."
Sunday 11 May 2008
mashaa Allah
"The people say to me that,
'You withdraw and
Keep away from the people'
But what they have seen is just a man who
Keeps away from humiliation
I see that the people sire such
that whoever is close to them,
Then he is held in contempt by them,
And whoever has respect for his own self then
he is the noble one.
I have not ceased keeping aloof from the people
with my honour to one side,
Keeping away from fault finding as a safeguard,
And I regard it as a profit to do so.
I would not have fulfilled the right of knowledge
if every time it appeared before me,
I used knowledge
as a ladder to climb upon to attain it
If it is said to me, 'There is a watering place
here...' Then I will say, 'i can see it.'
However the soul of the free person can put up
With being thirsty.
Every burst of lightning that appears in front of
me does not excite me,
And I am not pleased that I should take
everyone from the people of the earth as
benefactors.I have not expended
my soul in the service of
knowledge... In order that i should be
a servant to whoever I
meet rather-that i should be served.
Did i go through straightened circumstances for it,
in order to plant and establish it
And then have to harvest humiliation as a result
or that? In that case following
ignorance would have been
wiser for me.If the people of knowledge
had only preserved
the honour of knowledge
It would have preserved their honour.
If they had given it honour in the hearts of the
people it would have been honoured.
But they debased it and therefore they were
degraded and they disfigured it
due to their own greedy
desires, so that its apperance looked ugly"
'You withdraw and
Keep away from the people'
But what they have seen is just a man who
Keeps away from humiliation
I see that the people sire such
that whoever is close to them,
Then he is held in contempt by them,
And whoever has respect for his own self then
he is the noble one.
I have not ceased keeping aloof from the people
with my honour to one side,
Keeping away from fault finding as a safeguard,
And I regard it as a profit to do so.
I would not have fulfilled the right of knowledge
if every time it appeared before me,
I used knowledge
as a ladder to climb upon to attain it
If it is said to me, 'There is a watering place
here...' Then I will say, 'i can see it.'
However the soul of the free person can put up
With being thirsty.
Every burst of lightning that appears in front of
me does not excite me,
And I am not pleased that I should take
everyone from the people of the earth as
benefactors.I have not expended
my soul in the service of
knowledge... In order that i should be
a servant to whoever I
meet rather-that i should be served.
Did i go through straightened circumstances for it,
in order to plant and establish it
And then have to harvest humiliation as a result
or that? In that case following
ignorance would have been
wiser for me.If the people of knowledge
had only preserved
the honour of knowledge
It would have preserved their honour.
If they had given it honour in the hearts of the
people it would have been honoured.
But they debased it and therefore they were
degraded and they disfigured it
due to their own greedy
desires, so that its apperance looked ugly"
Sunday 4 May 2008
THE BEAUTY OF THE BEARD
By Br Tushar Imdad-ul-Haque Bhuiya
THE BEAUTY OF THE BEARD
"Glorified be He who beautifies women with long locks of hair
And Men with long beards
There is beauty in the beard
Aye, there is beauty in the beard!
When the lion roars all the animals submit
For the lion is the king of the jungle
The lion with its glorious mane
And a Muslim man grows his mane in pride
Showing the rest of humanity that he is to be respected
Can one imagine a lion without its mane?
Nay, thou canst not!
Then imagine a man without his beard
Woe to worldly women who mock the beards so!
Desiring husbands with clean shaven faces
Woe to women who mock the Prophets Sunnah
In the name of hygiene, neatness and smooth texture
Indeed the women of this world cannot like the beard
But she who wants Paradise adores the beard!
A beard is a gift given to man
Something only he can grow; a woman never can!
When he ponders, he gently strokes it;
When he eats, it stores food;
When he is with kids, they play with it adoringly;
When he is with his wife, she fondles it lovingly;
When the enemy see it, fear is struck in their hearts!
Ah! there is indeed beauty in the beard!
All the Prophets had beards - yes they did!
Muhammad (pbuh) had a beard - so big! so big!
All the companions had beards - o yes! o yes!
All the sages had beards - I know! I know!
All the wise have beards - tis true! tis true!
All the pious have beards - you see! you see!
All the Muslims have beards!? - if only! if only!
Who did not have beards? The kafirun!
Who had clean shaven faces? The kafirun!
Who grew their moustaches? The kafirun!
"And what did our Prophet order?" I here you ask
He ordered us to lengthen the beard and trim the moustache!
Lengthen the beard and trim the moustache!
What greater reason that this can there be
The fact that our Prophet told us to see
That we make ourselves appear to the world
As full bearded men with honour untold
O Muslim brother! Why do you desire to look like a woman
When your blessed facial hair is the differece between you and the
opposite gender?
O poor Muslim brother! Why do you imitate the kafir
Instead of following the Prophet of Islam?
O silly Muslim sister! Why are you so blind?
Infatuated with Bollywood actors who have no mind!
O wretched sister! Are you not scared of your choice?
You would rather have a feminine monkey instead of an exalted manly ape!
So indeed I love my beard
And adore the curls and tangles
Which no oil, gel or superglue can ever straighten
My glorious long, curly, messy, fluffy beard!
The playhouse for kids;
The envy of Malaysian people
And the beloved of Allah!
I maybe rejected by worldly women because of this hair on my face
But who care! For my Mum loves it and she puts all such sisters to disgrace!
Be patient Muslim brothers, who shun the trendy look for a Prophetic pose
Paradise with the wide eyed Houris is our final abode!!!!!"
THE BEAUTY OF THE BEARD
"Glorified be He who beautifies women with long locks of hair
And Men with long beards
There is beauty in the beard
Aye, there is beauty in the beard!
When the lion roars all the animals submit
For the lion is the king of the jungle
The lion with its glorious mane
And a Muslim man grows his mane in pride
Showing the rest of humanity that he is to be respected
Can one imagine a lion without its mane?
Nay, thou canst not!
Then imagine a man without his beard
Woe to worldly women who mock the beards so!
Desiring husbands with clean shaven faces
Woe to women who mock the Prophets Sunnah
In the name of hygiene, neatness and smooth texture
Indeed the women of this world cannot like the beard
But she who wants Paradise adores the beard!
A beard is a gift given to man
Something only he can grow; a woman never can!
When he ponders, he gently strokes it;
When he eats, it stores food;
When he is with kids, they play with it adoringly;
When he is with his wife, she fondles it lovingly;
When the enemy see it, fear is struck in their hearts!
Ah! there is indeed beauty in the beard!
All the Prophets had beards - yes they did!
Muhammad (pbuh) had a beard - so big! so big!
All the companions had beards - o yes! o yes!
All the sages had beards - I know! I know!
All the wise have beards - tis true! tis true!
All the pious have beards - you see! you see!
All the Muslims have beards!? - if only! if only!
Who did not have beards? The kafirun!
Who had clean shaven faces? The kafirun!
Who grew their moustaches? The kafirun!
"And what did our Prophet order?" I here you ask
He ordered us to lengthen the beard and trim the moustache!
Lengthen the beard and trim the moustache!
What greater reason that this can there be
The fact that our Prophet told us to see
That we make ourselves appear to the world
As full bearded men with honour untold
O Muslim brother! Why do you desire to look like a woman
When your blessed facial hair is the differece between you and the
opposite gender?
O poor Muslim brother! Why do you imitate the kafir
Instead of following the Prophet of Islam?
O silly Muslim sister! Why are you so blind?
Infatuated with Bollywood actors who have no mind!
O wretched sister! Are you not scared of your choice?
You would rather have a feminine monkey instead of an exalted manly ape!
So indeed I love my beard
And adore the curls and tangles
Which no oil, gel or superglue can ever straighten
My glorious long, curly, messy, fluffy beard!
The playhouse for kids;
The envy of Malaysian people
And the beloved of Allah!
I maybe rejected by worldly women because of this hair on my face
But who care! For my Mum loves it and she puts all such sisters to disgrace!
Be patient Muslim brothers, who shun the trendy look for a Prophetic pose
Paradise with the wide eyed Houris is our final abode!!!!!"
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