Common Mistakes Made During Ramadan

Bismillah,

I received this from a friend and wanted to share, I hope you all find it as beneficial as I did InshaAllah.

Most Muslims who fast Ramadan focus on the benefits and rewards of it. But in doing so, we often make mistakes that instead of adding to our experience actually detract from it. Mistakes that can make us commercialize Ramadan as so many other religions have commercialized their sacred days. Insha Allah the following serves as a reminder to myself first and to all Muslims. May Allah help us to spend our time wisely this Ramadan and help us to avoid these mistakes. Aameen!

1. Taking Ramadaan as a ritual

For many of us Ramadaan has lost its spirituality and has become more of a ritual than a form of Ibaadah. We fast from morning to night like a zombie just because everyone around us is fasting too. We forget that its a time to purify our hearts and our souls from all evil….we forget to make dua, forget to beseech Allaah to forgive us and ask Him to save us from the Fire. Sure we stay away from food and drink but that's about all.

Although the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
'Jibreel said to me, 'May Allaah rub his nose in the dust, that person to who Ramadaan comes and his sins are not forgiven,' and I said, 'Aameen'. Then he said, 'May Allaah rub his nose in the dust, that person who lives to see his parents grow old, one or both of them, but he does not enter Paradise (by not serving them) and I said, 'Aameen'. Then he said, 'May Allaah rub his nose in the dust, that person in whose presence you are mentioned and he does not send blessings upon you,' and I said, 'Aameen.'' (Tirmidhi, Ahmad, others. Saheeh by al-Albaani)

2. Too much stress on food and drink

For some people, the entire month of Ramadaan revolves around food. They spend the ENTIRE day planning, cooking, shopping and thinking about only food, instead of concentrating on Salaah, Quraan and other acts of worship. All they can think of is FOOD. So much so that they turn the month of 'fasting' into the month of 'feasting'. Come Iftaar time, their table is a sight to see, with the multitudes and varieties of food, sweets and drinks.. They are missing the very purpose of fasting, and thus, increase in their greed and desires instead of learning to control them. It is also a kind of waste & extravagance.

'…..and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allaah) likes not Al-Musrifoon (those who waste by extravagance) ' [al-Araaf :31]

3. Spending all day cooking

Some of the sisters (either by their own choice or forced by their husbands) are cooking ALL day and ALL night, so that by the end of the day, they are too tired to even pray Ishaa, let alone pray Taraweeh or Tahajjud or even read Quraan. This is the month of mercy and forgiveness. So turn off that stove and turn on your Imaan!

4. Eating too much

Some people stuff themselves at Suhoor until they are ready to burst, because they think this is the way to not feel hungry during the day and some people eat at Iftaar, like there is no tomorrow, trying to 'make up for the food missed.' However, this is completely against the Sunnah. Moderation is the key to everything.

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: 'The son of Adam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach; for the son of Adam a few mouthfuls are sufficient to keep his back straight. If you must fill it, then one-third for food, one-third for drink and one-third for air.' (Tirmidhi, Ibn Maajah. saheeh by al-Albaani).

Too much food distracts a person from many deeds of obedience and worship, makes him lazy and also makes the heart heedless.

It was said to Imam Ahmad: Does a man find any softness and humility in his heart when he is full? He said, I do not think so.

5. Sleeping all day

Some people spend their entire day (or a major part of it) 'sleeping away their fast'. Is this what is really required of us during this noble month? These people also are missing the purpose of fasting and are slaves to their desires of comfort and ease. They cannot 'bear' to be awake and face a little hunger or exert a little self-control. For a fasting person to spend most of the day asleep is nothing but, negligence on his part.

6. Wasting time

The month of Ramadaan is a precious, precious time, so much so that Allaah calls this month 'Ayyamum Ma'doodaat' (A fixed number of days). Before we know it, this month of mercy and forgiveness will be over. We should try and spend every moment possible in the worship of Allaah so that we can make the most of this blessing. However, there are some of us who waste away their day playing video games, or worse still, watching TV, movies or even listening to music. Subha an Allaah! Trying to obey Allaah by DISOBEYING him!

7. Fasting but not giving up evil

Some of us fast but do not give up lying, cursing, fighting, backbiting, etc. and some of us fast but do not give up cheating, stealing, dealing in haraam, buying lotto tickets, selling alcohol, fornication, etc. and all kinds of impermissible things without realizing that the purpose of fasting is to not stay away from food and drink; rather the aim behind it is to fear Allaah.

'O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)' [al-Baqarah 2:183]

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: 'Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, and ignorance, Allaah has no need of him giving up his food and drink.' (Bukhaari)

8. Skipping Suhoor (sehri)

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: 'Eat suhoor for in suhoor there is blessing.'(Bukhaari, Muslim).
And he (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: 'The thing that differentiates between our fasting and the fasting of the People of the Book is eating suhoor.' (Muslim)

9. Stopping Suhoor at 'Imsaak'

Some people stop eating Suhoor 10-15 minutes earlier than the time of Fajr to observe 'Imsaak'.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said: This is a kind of bid’ah (innovation) which has no basis in the Sunnah. Rather the Sunnah is to do the opposite. Allaah allows us to eat until dawn: 'and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night)' [al-Baqarah 2:187]

And the Prophet (pbuh) said: '….eat and drink until you hear the adhaan of Ibn Umm Maktoom, for he does not give the adhaan until dawn comes.'

This 'imsaak' which some of the people do is an addition to what Allaah has prescribed, so it is false. It is a kind of extremism in religion, and the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
'Those who go to extremes are doomed, those who go to extremes are doomed, those who go to extremes are doomed.' (Muslim)

10. Not fasting if they missed Suhoor

Some people are too scared to fast if they miss Suhoor. However, this is a kind of cowardice and love of ease. What is the big deal if you missed a few morsels of food? It's not like you will die. Remember, obedience to Allaah overcomes everything.

11. Saying the intention to fast 'out loud' or saying a specific dua to start fasting:

The intention is an action of the heart. We should resolve in our heart that we are going to fast tomorrow. That is all we need. It is not prescribed by the Shari'ah for us to say out loud, 'I intend to fast', 'I will fast tomorrow' or other phrases that have been innovated by some people. Also, there is no specific dua to be recited at the time of starting the fast in the correct Sunnah. Whatever 'dua' you may see on some papers or Ramadaan calendars, etc. is a Bid'ah.

12. Delaying opening fast

Some people wait until the adhaan finishes or even several minutes after that, just to be 'on the safe side'. However, the Sunnah is to hasten to open the fast, which means opening the fast the moment the sun sets. Aa'ishah (RA) said: This is what the Messenger of Allaah (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) used to do. (Muslim)

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: 'The people will continue to do well so long as they hasten to open the fast.' (Bukhaari, Muslim)

Inspite of the above Hadith being so clear, the Adhaan in many of the mosques is given 5 minutes after sunset. You can check the newspaper everyday and see the exact time of sunset that is mentioned there. You can also check it on the net and then check for yourself when the Adhaan is given).

Determine to the best of your ability, the accuracy of your clock, calendar, etc. and then have tawakkul (trust) on Allaah swt and break your fast exactly on time.

13. Eating continuously until the time for Maghrib is up

Some people put so much food in their plates when breaking their fast and continue eating, enjoying dessert, drinking tea, etc., until they miss Maghrib. That is obviously not right. The Sunnah of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) was that once he broke his fast with some dates, he would hasten to the prayer. Once you are done with the prayer, you can always go back and eat some more if you wish.

14. Missing the golden chance of having your Dua accepted

The prayer of the fasting person is guaranteed to be accepted at the time of breaking fast.
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: 'Three prayers are not rejected: the prayer of a father, the prayer of a fasting person, and the prayer of a traveler.' (al-Bayhaqi, saheeh by al-Albaani).

Instead of sitting down and making Dua at this precious time, some people forego this beautiful chance, and are too busy frying samosas, talking, setting the food, filling their plates and glasses, etc. Think about it….Is food more important than the chance to have your sins forgiven or the fulfillment of your Duas.

15. Fasting but not praying

The fasting of one who does not pray WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. This is because not praying constitutes kufr as the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: 'Between a man and shirk and kufr there stands his giving up prayer.' (Muslim)

In fact, NONE of his good deeds will be accepted; rather, they are all annulled.
'Whoever does not pray 'Asr, his good deeds will be annulled.' (Bukhaari)

16. Fasting and not wearing Hijaab

Not wearing the Hijaab is a major sin as it is obligatory for Muslim women. (See Surah Nur, Surah Ahzaab). So fasting and not wearing hijaab certainly takes away enormously from the rewards of fasting, even if does not invalidate it.

17. Not fasting because of exams or work

Exams or work is NOT one of the excuses allowed by the Shariah to not fast. You can do your studying and revision at night if it is too hard to do that during the day. Also remember that pleasing and obeying Allaah is much more important than 'good grades'. Besides, if you will fulfill your obligation to fast, even if you have to study, Allaah will make it easy for you and help you in everything you do.
'Whosoever fears Allah, He will appoint for him a way out and provide for him from where he does not expect, Allaah is Sufficient for whosoever puts his trust in Him.' (Surah at-Talaaq 2-3)

18. Mixing fasting and dieting

DO NOT make the mistake of fasting with the intention to diet. That is one of the biggest mistakes some of us make (esp. sisters). Fasting is an act of worship and can only be for the sake of Allaah alone. Otherwise, mixing it with the intention of dieting may become a form of (minor) Shirk.

19. Praying ONLY on the night of the 27th

Some people pray ONLY on the 27th to seek Lailat ul-Qadr, neglecting all other odd nights, although the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: 'Seek Lailat ul-Qadr among the odd numbered nights of the last ten nights of Ramadaan.' (Bukhaari, Muslim).

20. Wasting the last part of Ramadaan preparing for Eid

Some people waste the entire last 10 days of Ramadaan preparing for Eid, shopping and frequenting malls, etc. neglecting Ibadah and Lailatul Qadr. although, the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) used to strive the hardest during the last ten days of Ramadaan in worship (Ahmad, Muslim) and not in shopping. Buy whatever you need for Eid, buy before Ramadaan so that you can utilize the time in Ramadaan to the max..
Aa'ishah (RA) said: 'When the (last) ten nights began, the Messenger of Allaah (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam)) would tighten his waist-wrapper (i.e., strive hard in worship or refrain from intimacy with his wives), stay awake at night and wake his family.' (Bukhaari and Muslim).

21. Iftaar parties

Although inviting each other for breaking fast is something good and encouraged, some people go to extremes with lavish 'Iftaar parties' with all sorts of disobedience to Allaah, from flirting, mixing of the sexes and hijaab-less women, to show-off and extravagance, to heedlessness of Salaah and Taraweeh. Some even resort to music and dancing.

It's not too late to rectify ones mistake and do good for the sake of Allaah.

[15:49] Inform My servants that I am the Forgiver, Most Merciful.

Ensuring a Successful Ramadhan

Bismillah,
Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Ensuring a Successful Ramadhaan

The gates of the heavens have been opened, the doors of Hellfire closed and our accursed enemy, the Shayateen, are locked up. Ramadhaan is upon us, the blessed month of mercy, forgiveness and compassion.
Indeed, we are in need of such a blessed month, so that we may immerse ourselves in the remembrance of Allah ta'ala after having been heedless, turn our sights to the Hereafter after having retreated to the dunyaa, read the Book of Allah after it has been untouched, collecting dust o­n our shelves. Surely our state is a distressing o­ne; our hearts have become hardened, we have lowered our barrier of taqwa, chasing after our whims and desires somehow, we have become of those who are negligent.

Yet the opportunity presents itself to humble o­neself, return to Allah and seek His forgiveness. It is a month wherein we may purify our hearts and free ourselves from the stronghold of transgression. And what is it that causes such a transition? For some it may be the large congregation of Muslimeen in salaat, a renewed sense of gratefulness after food has touched your lips, spending long nights in taraweeh prayer, raising your hands in du'aa qunoot and hoping fervently for the mercy of Allah ta'ala. Even still it may be the emergence of the Muslimeen, the many greetings of salaam, the smiles and heartfelt words, reflecting sincerely over the Qur'aan, or performing itikaaf in the masaajid, There is a change in the air and it can readily be sensed, a breeze of wellness overtakes us, sprinkled with ihsaan and taqwa, as we strive to enjoin the good. Suddenly we realize that the Promise of Allah is true, and fearing His Threat and hoping for His Mercy, we increase ourselves in worship and remembrance.

The Son of Adam often makes excuses for themselves their faults and their shortcomings. Truly this is an obstacle in the way of change. The beauty of Ramadhaan is that it diminishes such obstacles. Tasting the sweetness of faith allows for contemplation, reflection and self-assessment, such that we may diagnose our faults, make tawbah (repentance) and seek to remedy our condition. And what better time to make a firm resolution of change than in the blessed month of Ramadhaan, when the melodious recitation of the Qur'aan is resounding in your ears, when your eyes look upon believers who congregate to worship their Lord, and when your mouth abstains from food and drink instilling within you self-discipline? Surely, the time is now, ya Muslimeen.


The virtues of Sawm are many; the special quality of this ibaadaah is found in its close connection with Allah ta'ala: He says, The Fast (Sawm) is for Me and I will reward it.'' [Bukhari and Muslim] This statement relays the high status granted to fasting. Moreover, fasting stifles desires and is ultimately a shield from the Hellfire. Abu Sa`eed al-Khudri relates that the Messenger of Allah salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam said : "Fasting is a shield with which a servant protects himself from the Fire" [Ahmad, Sahih] and likewise, "No servant fasts o­n a day in the path of Allah except that Allah removes the Hell Fire seventy years further away from his face." [Bukhari and Muslim] Another unique aspect of Sawm is that the reason behind the command is given. Allaah, the Exalted and Most High, says in the Noble Quraan:

O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become people having Taqwaa. Soorah al-Baqarah 2:183

So the wisdom behind fasting is not just in preventing o­neself from enjoyable and permissible things, but so that we may attain taqwaa. Therefore, the wisdom behind the prescription of Fasting is that the Muslim should increase in obedience to Allaah ta'ala in Ramadhaan, and become more obedient than he was before it.[1] Thus this blessed month does indeed facilitate change within the believer as they strive to increase themselves in worship. Having knowledge of the reason behind the legislation should motivate the believer to hasten to do good works, hoping to earn the pleasure of Allah ta'ala.

Know O Believer that the fast is not purely o­n a physical level - refraining from food and drink - but rather the complete fast involves œthe refraining of o­nes gaze, tongue, hands, feet, hearing and eyes, as well as the rest of his body parts from committing sinful acts. The o­ne who is fasting lowers his gaze and safeguards his tongue from the repulsive speech that is forbidden, disliked, or which has no benefit, as well as controlling the rest of his body parts. [2] This is elucidated in a hadeeth by al-Bukhaaree: " Whosoever does not abandon false speech and the acting upon it, Allaah is not in need of his food and drink.'' [Bukhari]

Just as the life of this world, Ramadhaan shall come to an end. And while we may lament at the closing of this blessed month at having experienced a closer relationship to Allah ta'ala and an increased level of emaan. It may serve to be a beacon of light henceforth. Perhaps the key lies in realizing Ramadhaan's worth so that we do not use our limited time in vain. The rightly guided predecessors (As-Salif As-Salih) used to seek the forgiveness of Allaah and repent so much so that it was reported that they would supplicate to Allaah for six months that He would allow them to reach Ramadaan. If He allowed them to reach Ramadaan, they would fast, pray at night and supplicate for the next six months that He accepts the month of Ramadaan from them. [3] Such was their piety, and may we follow in their footsteps.

"If the Muslim is in a good state after Ramadaan, performing many good deeds and righteous actions, then this is a proof of acceptance. If the opposite is true, and he follows good with evil, and as soon as Ramadaan is over he follows o­n from this with sins, heedlessness and turning away from the obedience of Allaah, then this is a proof that it hasn't been accepted." [3] Let not the Eid celebration symbolize a return to the vice you were o­nce in, for Alhamdulillah you have been shown the radiant light by way of Ramadhaan. Do not revisit the crooked path, but instead follow this nur and continue your beautiful journey seeking the Pleasure of Allah, seeking Al-Jannah, seeking His Face.

Surely we wish to be of the people of Taqwaa', and may Allah make it so. [Aameen].


References:

[1] Sunnahs Neglected During Ramadhaan Shaykh al Albaanee
[2] The Inner Secrets of Fasting Imaam Ibn Qudaamah al-Maqdisee
[3] A Successful Ramadhaan Shaykh Saalih Al Fawzaan

Introducing the new Mrs. G

Assalamu alaykum everyone,

It's been a while since I posted and I have a confession....a good one. I was busy preparing for my wedding :). Alhamdullilah, I got married earlier this week to a wonderful man MashaAllah , Mr. G.

I'm so sorry for keeping you all in the dark through the whole process and I'll be sure to fill you in with more details later InshaAllah. I don't have internet at home yet so am just sneaking in a quick post from the office, lol.

Authentic Jamaican food....In Jeddah

Jamaican Grill, an authentic Jamaican Restaurant is now open in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and has been getting good reviews MashaAllah. It's owned and operated by one of my best friends brothers, Rasheed Muncey a trained chef.

We’ve been eagerly awaiting the opening of Jamaican Grill since we first heard about it, and so it was refreshing to learn that not only is the founder of this restaurant Jamaican, he is also a trained chef, and one who is bringing a little bit of Carribean cuisine into the heart of Jeddah.

Jamaican Grill is pretty easy to find, in fact its hard not to miss if youre driving down Hera Street, the bright neon lights are a dead giveaway; lights that have been attracting Jeddahs youth like moths to a flame for the last month or so (according to the member of staff we spoke to). All were turned away with flyers detailing the forthcoming menu, but they may be happy to know their wait is now finally over. The Venue has its soft opening on the 2nd of July 2009.

Traditional Jamaican grub is served up in this carefully decorated restaurant, shoots of bamboo cover the walls from floor to ceiling, while photos from Jamaica adorn the walls. Elsewhere it’s easy to spot Jamaican memoribilia decorating the walls along with ornate boards detailing humourous takes on the Jamaican Alphabet and even Jamaican slang!

You can read the rest of the review from JeddahFood here.


MashaAllah! I feel so happy for them. May Allah Subhana wa ta'ala grant them success in this life and the next, Ameen!

Successfully Integrated and Niqabi Interrupted

This news item on the bbc made me wonder at the hidden agenda behind this.... is this some subtle way of telling the 'Muslim World' that no hijab = successfully integrated into American Society ? I wonder whats next...


Here's an interesting article written by Naima Robert about the Niqab and her choice to wear it, in response to Mr. Sarkozy.

Ahmediyyah/ Qadianiyyah here to confuse the people !

Tonight, on Religious HardTalk there will be an interview with some members of the Ahmediyyah movement here in Jamaica. May Allah guide the viewers away from the misguidance and confusion that these people bring, Ameen. Jamaicans are getting used to Islam and are in no need of these deviant sects to confuse them.

The following was taken from IslamQA

Qadianiyyah in the light of Islam

Definition:

Qadianiyyah is a movement that started in 1900 CE as a plot by the British colonialists in the Indian subcontinent, with the aim of diverting Muslims away from their religion and from the obligation of jihaad in particular, so that they would not oppose colonialism in the name of Islam. The mouthpiece of this movement is the magazine Majallat Al-Adyaan (Magazine if Religions) which was published in English.

Foundation and prominent personalities:

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad al-Qadiani (1839-1908 CE) was the main tool by means of which Qadianiyyah was founded. He was born in the village of Qadian, in the Punjab, in India, in 1839 CE. Ghulam Ahmad grew up loyal and obedient to the colonialists in every sense. Thus he was chosen for the role of a so-called prophet, so that the Muslims would gather around him and he would distract them from waging jihaad against the English colonialists. The British government did lots of favours for them, so they were loyal to the British. Ghulam Ahmad was known among his followers to be unstable, with a lot of health problems and dependent on drugs.

Among those who confronted him and his evil da’wah was Shaykh Abu’l-Wafa’ Thana’ al-Amritsari, the leader of Jama’iyyat Ahl al-Hadeeth fi ‘Umoom al-Hind (The All-India Society of Ahl al-Hadeeth). The Shaykh debated with him and refuted his arguments, revealing his ulterior motives and Kufr and the deviation of his way. When Ghulam Ahmad did not come to his senses, Shaykh Abu’l-Wafa’ challenged him to come together and invoke the curse of Allaah, such that the one who was lying would die in the lifetime of the one who was telling the truth. Only a few days passed before Mirza Ghulam Ahmad al-Qadiani died, in 1908 CE, leaving behind more than fifty books, pamphlets and articles, among the most important of which are: Izaalat al-Awhaam (Dispelling illusions), I’jaaz Ahmadi (Ahmadi miracles), Baraaheen Ahmadiyyah (Ahmadi proofs), Anwaar al-Islam (Lights of Islam), I’jaaz al-Maseeh (Miracles of the Messiah), al-Tableegh (Conveying (the message))and Tajalliyyaat Ilaahiyyah (Divine manifestations).

Noor al-Deen (Nuruddin): the first Khaleefah of the Qadianis. The British put the crown of Khilaafah on his head, so the disciples (of Ghulam Ahmad) followed him. Among his books is: Fasl al-Khitaab (Definitive statement).

Muhammad Ali and Khojah Kamaal al-Deen: the two leaders of the Lahore Qadianis. They are the ones who gave the final shape to the movement. The former produced a distorted translation into English of the Qur’aan. His other works include: Haqeeqat al-Ikhtilaaf (The reality of differences), al-Nubuwwah fi’l-Islam (Prophethood in Islam) and al-Deen al-Islami (The Islamic religion). As for Khojah Kamaal al-Deen, he wrote a book called al-Mathal al-A’laa fi’l-Anbiya’ (The highest example of the Prophets), and other books. This Lahore group of Ahmadis are those who think of Ghulam Ahmad as a Mujaddid (renewer or reviver of Islam) only, but both groups are viewed as a single movement because odd ideas that are not seen in the one will surely be found in the other.

Muhammad Ali: the leader of the Lahore Qadianis. He was one of those who gave the final shape to Qadianiyyah, a colonialist spy and the person in charge of the magazine which was the voice of the Qadianiyyah. He also produced a distorted translation into English of the Qur’aan. Among his works are Haqeeqat al-Ikhtilaaf (The reality of differences), and al-Nubuwwah fi’l-Islam (Prophethood in Islam), as stated above.

Muhammad Saadiq, the mufti of the Qadianiyyah. His works include: Khatim al-Nabiyyeen The seal of the Prophets).

Basheer Ahmad ibn Ghulam. His works include: Seerat al-Mahdi (the life of the Mahdi) and Kalimat al-Fasl (Decisive word).

Mahmood Ahmad ibn Ghulam, his second Khaleefah. Among his works are: Anwaar al-Khilaafah (Lights of the caliphate), Tuhfat al-Mulook and Haqeeqat al-Nubuwwah (The reality of prophethood).

The appointment of the Qadiani Zafar-Allaah Khan as the first Foreign Minister of Pakistan had a major effect in supporting this deviant sect, as he gave them a large area in the province of the Punjab to be their world headquarters, which they named Rabwah (high ground) as in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): “… And We gave them refuge on high ground (rabwah), a place of rest, security and flowing streams.” [al-Mu’minoon 23:50].

Their thought and beliefs

• Ghulam Ahmad began his activities as an Islamic daa’iyah (caller to Islam) so that he could gather followers around him, then he claimed to be a mujaddid inspired by Allaah. Then he took a further step and claimed to be the Awaited Mahdi and the Promised Messiah. Then he claimed to be a Prophet and that his prophethood was higher than that of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

• The Qadianis believe that Allaah fasts, prays, sleeps, wakes up, writes, makes mistakes and has intercourse – exalted be Allaah far above all that they say.

• The Qadiani believes that his god is English because he speaks to him in English.

• The Qadianis believe that Prophethood did not end with Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), but that it is ongoing, and that Allaah sends a messenger when there is a need, and that Ghulam Ahmad is the best of all the Prophets.

• They believe that Jibreel used to come down to Ghulam Ahmad and that he used to bring revelation to him, and that his inspirations are like the Qur’aan.

• They say that there is no Qur’aan other than what the “Promised Messiah” (Ghulam Ahmad) brought, and no hadeeth except what is in accordance with his teachings, and no Prophet except under the leadership of Ghulam Ahmad.

• They believe that their book was revealed. Its name is al-Kitaab al-Mubeen and it is different from the Holy Qur’aan.

• They believe that they are followers of a new and independent religion and an independent Sharee’ah, and that the friends of Ghulam are like the Sahaabah.

• They believe that Qadian is like Madeenah and Makkah, if not better than them, and that its land is sacred. It is their Qiblah and the place they make hajj to.

• They called for the abolition of jihaad and blind obedience to the British government because, as they claimed, the British were “those in authority” as stated in the Qur’aan.

• In their view every Muslim is a Kaafir unless he becomes a Qadiani, and everyone who married a non-Qadiani is also a kaafir.

• They allow alcohol, opium, drugs and intoxicants.

Intellectual and ideological roots

The westernizing movement of Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan paved the way for the emergence of the Qadianiyyah, because it had already spread deviant ideas.

The British made the most of this opportunity so they started the Qadiani movement and chose a man from a family that had a history of being agents of the colonialists.

In 1953 CE, there was a popular revolution in Pakistan which demanded the removal of Zafar-Allaah Khan from the position of Foreign Minister and that the Qadiani sect should be regarded as a non-Muslim minority. In this uprising around ten thousand Muslims were martyred, and they succeeded in having the Qadiani minister removed from office.

In Rabee’ al-Awwal 1394 AH (April 1974), a major conference was held by the Muslim World League in Makkah, which was attended by representatives of Muslim organizations from around the world. This conference announced that this sect is Kaafir and is beyond the pale of Islam, and told Muslims to resist its dangers and not to cooperate with the Qadianis or bury their dead in Muslim graveyards.

The Majlis al-Ummah in Pakistan (the central parliament) debated with the Qadiani leader Mirza Naasir Ahmad, and he was refuted by Shaykh Mufti Mahmood (may Allaah have mercy on him). The debate went on for nearly thirty hours but Naasir Ahmad was unable to give answers and the Kufr of this group was exposed, so the Majlis issued a statement that the Qadianis should be regarded as a non-Muslim minority.

Among the factors that make Mirza Ghulam Ahmad an obvious Kaafir are the following:

• His claim to be a Prophet

• His abolition of the duty of jihaad, to serve the interests of the colonialists.

• His saying that people should no longer go on Hajj to Makkah, and his substitution of Qadian as the place of pilgrimage.

• His anthropomorphism or likening Allaah to human beings.

• His belief in the transmigration of souls and incarnation.

• His attributing a son to Allaah and his claim to be the son of God.

• His denying that Prophethood ended with Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his regarding the door of Prophethood to be open to “any Tom, Dick or Harry”.

• The Qadianis have strong ties with Israel. Israel has opened centres and schools for them, and helped them to publish a magazine which is their mouthpiece, to print books and publications for distribution worldwide.

• The fact that they are influenced by Judaism, Christianity and al-Baatiniyyah is clear from their beliefs and practices, even though they claim to be Muslims.

Their spread and positions of influence

Most of the Qadianis nowadays live in India and Pakistan, with a few in Israel and the Arab world. They are trying, with the help of the colonialists, to obtain sensitive positions in all the places where they live.

The Qadianis are very active in Africa and in some western countries. In Africa they have more than 5,000 teachers and dai’yahs working full-time to call people to Qadianiyyah. Their wide-spread activity proves that they have the support of the colonialists.

The British government is also supporting this movement and making it easy for their followers to get positions in world governments, corporate administration and consulates. Some of them are also high-ranking officers in the secret services.

In calling people to their beliefs, the Qadianis use all kinds of methods, especially educational means, because they are highly-educated and there are many scientists, engineers and doctors in their ranks. In Britain there is a satellite TV channel called Islamic TV which is run by the Qadianis.

From the above, it is clear that:

Qadianiyyah is a misguided group, which is not part of Islam at all. Its beliefs are completely contradictory to Islam, so Muslims should beware of their activities, since the ‘Ulama’ (scholars) of Islam have stated that they are Kaafirs.

For more information see: Al-Qadianiyyah by Ihsaan Ilaahi Zaheer.

(Translator’s note: this book is available in English under the title “Qadiyaniat: an analytical survey” by Ehsan Elahi Zaheer)

Reference: Al-Mawsoo’ah al-Muyassarah fi’l-Adyaan al-Madhaahib wa’l-Ahzaab al-Mu’aasirah by Dr. Maani’ Hammad al-Juhani, 1/419-423

The following statement was published by the Islamic Fiqh Council (Majma’ al-Fiqh al-Islami):

After discussing the question put to the Islamic Fiqh Council in Capetown, South Africa, concerning the ruling on the Qadianis and their off-shoot which is known as Lahoriyyah, and whether they should be counted as Muslims or not, and whether a non-Muslim is qualified to examine an issue of this nature:

In the light of research and documents presented to the members of the council concerning Mirza Ghulam Ahmad al-Qadiani, who emerged in India in the last century and to whom is attributed the Qadiani and Lahori movements, and after pondering the information presented on these two groups, and after confirming that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed to be a prophet who received revelation, a claim which is documented in his own writings and speeches, some of which he claimed to have received as revelation, a claim which he propagated all his life and asked people to believe in, just as it is also well-known that he denied many other things which are proven to be essential elements of the religion of Islam

in the light of the above, the Council issued the following statement:

Firstly: the claims of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad to be a prophet or a messenger and to receive revelation are clearly a rejection of proven and essential elements of Islam, which unequivocally states that Prophethood ended with Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and that no revelation will come to anyone after him. This claim made by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad makes him and anyone who agrees with him an apostate who is beyond the pale of Islam. As for the Lahoriyyah, they are like the Qadianiyyah: the same ruling of apostasy applies to them despite the fact that they described Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as a shadow and manifestation of our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

Secondly: it is not appropriate for a non-Muslim court or judge to give a ruling on who is a Muslim and who is an apostate, especially when this goes against the consensus of the scholars and organizations of the Muslim Ummah. Rulings of this nature are not acceptable unless they are issued by a Muslim scholar who knows all the requirements for being considered a Muslim, who knows when a person may be deemed to have overstepped the mark and become an apostate, who understands the realities of Islam and kufr, and who has comprehensive knowledge of what is stated in the Qur’aan, Sunnah and scholarly consensus. The ruling of a court of that nature is invalid. And Allaah knows best.

Majma’ al-Fiqh al-Islami, p. 13

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

Psycho crazy wife/ex-wife...are there any normal people out there?

SubhanAllah! This is just dejavu, over the weekend I got an instant message from the brother I mentioned in the polygny thoughts post. He said he had an apology, he said that it wasnt him I was speaking to in the previous conversation...it was his WIFE. OKaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay. So apparently she came online using his email, pretended to be him and just picked me out of his friends list to have a talk about wanting two wives. Ya Allah! I don't even want to think about what kind of person would do that.

Now I said dejavu because a couple of years ago, I met a brother online on a muslim marriage website. We were communicating by email and instant massages and things were going pretty well. One day he starts acting weird telling me all sorts of things, that he wasnt good enough for me, that I should find another brother, that his ex wife paid all the bills and that he got her in trouble with the police and lots of crap, so I got upset and told him I couldnt deal with this anymore, he apologized and stuff and that was it. Later I get an e-card like everything is okay. So I send a message asking what kind of crap is this first he's breaking off our relationship, then next he is sending e-cards. Turns out it was his EX-WIFE pretending to be him and sending me messages and email. Why oh why do people give access to their emails to their wives/husbands...especially if they clearly have mental issues....

This is clearly a wake up call to be careful on the internet, chat messages and emails may not be from who you think they are, but from someones crazy wife, or ex-wife or whatever.

Recap on Islamic Awareness Week

Bismillah,

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

First let me apoligize for not posting in a while. Right after Islamic Awareness week, I got the flu, I think my immune system was low due to the lots of driving around and of course it rained in Montego Bay. But Alhamdullilah, I'm fine now, just been a little busy with some projects at work.

The seminars were excellent MashaAllah. Brothers Abu Khadeejah of salafipublications and Abu Hakim Bilal Davis are really vibrant speakers MashaAllah. This was the first event of this kind being held in Jamaica and InshaAllah there will be more to come.

They said they have never travelled to any country where the people were more open to dawah as here in Jamaica, they loved it here, and may be coming back to do more seminars in the near future InshaAllah.

There was good turnout at the seminars in Kingston, Montego Bay and Mandeville Alhamdullilah. They also held small classes in St. Mary but I was not able to attend those.

They spoke on various topics including Islam's solution to crime and violence and achieving security, death and the day of judgment and the importance of knowledge. The lecturers were inspiring, upliftibg, educational and especially in the case of the lecture on death and the day of judgement, heart wrenching. It really helped to put things in perspective for me and others who attended. MashaAllah all in all it was pretty good and I look forward to more InshaAllah.

In fact tonight (June 9th, 2009) there will be a recording of their Interview with Ian Boyne on the TV programme 'Religious Hardtalk' InshaAllah. All of you here in Jamaica, be sure to tune in to TVJ at 9:00 pm.

Rumour has it that another overseas speaker may be coming later in the Summer InshaAllah.

Islamic Awareness Week begins today in Kingston

UPDATED !

Happy Jumuah!

Brothers Abu Hakeem Bilaal Davis, and Abu Khadeejah Abdul Waahidalam from the UK are in Jamaica for a series of lectures and seminars starting today. The khutbah today at the masjid I attend, will be given by one of them InshaAllah and tommorrow there will be a seminar InshaAllah. The topics look interesting especially the one about 'Islam's Solution to crime and violence'. I think that one is very needed in our society, the crime rate here is terrible. I'll let you all know what I thought of the khutbah when I get back from Jumuah InshaAllah, and will keep you posted about the seminar tomorrow InshaAllah.


UPDATE ! The Khutbah was excellent MashaAllah. It was mainly about dawah, that all the Messengers of Allah (pbut) called to Allah first, they called to tawheed first and foremost. The rules and laws came afterwards. In the time of Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu alaihi wa salam, none of the laws were revealed in Makka, they were revealed in Medina after the people had accepted tawheed (the oneness of Allah) and had a love for Allah in their hearts. Even the prohibition on alcohol came gradually, first they were told not to approach prayers while intoxicated. Then they were told not to come near to khamr (alcohol and intoxicants) whatsoever. So if someone had wanted to drink they couldnt drink at Dhur time because they would be intoxicated at Asr, and they couldnt drink at Asr time because they would be intoxicated at Maghrib, and they couldnt drink at Maghrib time because they would be intoxicated for Isha Prayer. So the only time they could drink without fearing that they would go to the prayer intoxicated was after Isha. So it was a gradual phasing out, then when the verse was revealed that they should not come near to alcohol, they discarded all their alcoholic beverages, their hearts had become attached to Allah and it was now easy for them to give up alcohol alltogether.

This reminded me of something I had read recently by Ibn Qayyim..

'...The smart one does not command people to abandon the dunya, because this is impossible for them. Rather, he has them abandon sins while they are established in their dunya. This is because abandoning the dunya is an optional virtue while abandoning sins is an obligation. So, how can he command them with something optional while they have not even fulfilled what is obligatory?

If it is difficult for them to abandon sins, he should then strive to get them to love Allah by reminding them of His signs, blessings, Kindness, perfection, and Loftiness. This is because the hearts are naturally designed to love Him, and if they become attached to loving Him, it then becomes extremely easy to abandon sins and to detach oneself from them.

Yahya bin Mu'adh said: 'The intelligent one seeking the dunya is better than the ignorant one abandoning it.'

The smart one calls the people to Allah from their dunya, and this makes it easier for them to respond to him. The zahid calls them to Allah by way of abandoning the dunya, and this makes it hard for them to respond, since it is very hard to pull someone away from the breast that he has developed his mind while suckling on...'

[al-Fawa'id; p. 233-234]

Sometimes when we give dawah (to Muslims and non-Muslims we dont realize the stage the person is at, one of the most important things we can do is to listen, not just speak, really listen and try to understand people. We need to start at the beginning, with love of Allah Subhana wa ta'ala, not associating partners with Him, whether it is other people, our job, money or whatever else we believe that we cannot do without, then and only then will we be able to accept and follow the 'rules'.

Let's make more babies !

Er...was that politically correct to say? :)...

Swine Flu?

Now that's just nasty !

Don't Diss the Trying Muhajabah !

Some Muslim women (and some men too) have the tendency to criticize sisters for how they wear hijab, for them not fully covering, even for not covering their feet. Many women are simply not ready for hijab, they have accepted Islam but they are not ready to take the next step. They may take baby steps, wearing a small scarf every now and then, wearing a long blouse over jeans, but are not ready to take the plunge into being a full time muhajabah. This may take time, as everyone is different, it may even take some sisters YEARS to wear hijab full-time.

Be patient with them dear sisters, be kind to them, be supportive, be a good example, do not repel them with harshness and they may eventually come to wear proper hijab full-time InshaAllah. You could also prepare a 'new hijabee' package for them, give them a couple of nice hijabs, maybe...and we might not have even thought about it....maybe they can't AFFORD to buy hijabs or more modest clothing. There is one sister here who stopped coming to the masjid because persons were harsh to her...she cannot afford to buy the modest clothing, her family is against her being a Muslim, then she comes to the Masjid and gets dissed :( Where is our compassion?

As for those who used to wear proper hijab and you notice them slipping, again be supportive, talk to them with kindness, encourage them to wear proper hijab again, they may be going through a trial and you may be able to help them InshaAllah.

I came across the following post at Muslimah2Muslimah and am re-posting it here, its very relevant to all of us. The next time we see someone trying to wear hijab, be supportive, don't diss them, a lot of them DO know what proper hijab is but are just not ready yet. And those who do not know what it is, you teach them...I didnt say lecture or demand that they do it, just be subtle and gentle, let them know, preferably not in front of a bunch of people so as NOT to embarrass them, and most of all BE PATIENT.

May Allah Subhana wa ta'ala fill us with love, mercy, humility and generosity, and rid our hearts of arrogance and pride Ameen!

Below is the post from Muslimah2Muslimah, reposted with permission. JazakAllah Khair Sisters.

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It had been ten years since she had set foot in a mosque. Being away in college had broadened her mind in many ways; one of them being her reconnecting with Islam. She had begun praying five times a day a month ago, and now felt ready to pray in public, at the university's Jumu'a prayer. She paused and stood a few feet away from the women's entrance. Taking a deep breath, she pulled the silk scarf out of her purse and tied it carefully on her head. Her ponytail stuck out a bit. She smoothed the creases on her long-sleeved beige shirt and tugged at the bottom of it to make it longer over her pants.


The prayer was great. She had never felt this sense of inner peace.


Afterwards, she tried mingling with the sisters, but nobody even looked her way. A few of them even pretended not to hear her greeting. The only sister who did talk to her said in a huff: "You know your prayer is not accepted in those pants and that tiny thing you pass for a Hijab. I suggest you get more Islamic knowledge and dress properly before coming back here." The words stung her like a million bumble bees. Too numb to respond or speak, she charged out of the hall. Never again would she associate with these people, she told herself. And never again would she return to Jumu'a.


Are you shocked reading about this incident? Don't be. It has been a reality in almost every Muslim community in North America. This harsh judgment and intolerance shown towards Muslim women who do not wear Hijab can lead to at least some Muslim women to become alienated from the Muslim community, and could lead to a complete loss of Islamic practice.
While Hijab is an obligation clearly ordained in the Quran and Sunnah, the above-mentioned method of its enforcement and encouragement is not Islamic, according to Muslim scholars, researchers and activists. Muslims have to start seeing the issue from a different perspective, they say.


SOME ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT OF NON-HIJABI SISTERS
"I would say that the overwhelming majority of Muslim women I have met who don't cover and who believe in God, believe they should cover, but believe they're not ready yet," says Sharifa Alkhateeb, vice-president of the North American Council of Muslim Women, in an interview with Sound Vision.


This reality indicates there is a seed of faith that needs to be nurtured and encouraged. As well, it means these women need all the support they can get. Abdalla Idris Ali is a member of the Islamic Society of North America's (ISNA) Majlis Shura, which debates Islamic issues and establishes policy for the organization. He says what also has to be remembered is that many Muslim women are coming from cultures where the Hijab is not practiced, for whatever reason. These sisters should not be condemned. Rather, Islamic concepts like Hijab, should be explained to them.


Another possibility is that Muslim women who do not wear Hijab are coming from families which are either not practicing Islam, or are downright hostile to it. In this situation, "it's actually a celebration that a young Muslim woman wants to pray Jumu'a," says Kathy Bullock, who started wearing Hijab two weeks after she converted to Islam. "I think that's where the tolerance comes in."


Another reason some Muslim women may find Hijab difficult is because of the often negative ideas surrounding Hijab. For instance, that wearing Hijab kills marriage and job prospects. Muslim activists must seek to dispel such myths. "There needs to be a lot more support for the women who decide to cover," says Bullock, who completed a PhD. about The Politics of the Veil from the University of Toronto in January. Bullock also gives a chilling warning to those who condemn non-Hijabi Muslim women: "We might be wearing Hijab but we might be doing something incredibly wrong which cancels out the reward [for wearing it]." One of these things she mentions is arrogance.


WHY ARE SOME MUSLIMS SO SENSITIVE ABOUT THE HIJAB?
Some Muslims seek to condemn non-Hijabis out of their understanding of the Quranic injunction of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil. Yet, they fail to take the right approach in doing it, in accordance with the example of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), which was one of kindness, gentleness and patience. Interestingly, some Muslim men and women who criticize non-Hijabi Muslim women seem to have different reasons for doing it and varying ways of approaching a sister who does not wear Hijab.


"Unfortunately on the brothers' side there is a push to make Hijab the marker of Islamic identity," says Bullock. She also emphasizes the hypocrisy of many Muslim men criticizing Muslim women who do not wear the Hijab, while they themselves wear no beards, images on their shirts, or ill-fitting jeans. These forms of dress are strictly prohibited for men in Islam. Yet, go to any Jumu'a or Jamaah prayer, and these forms of unIslamic dress can be easily seen. Also, the lowering of the gaze is rarely ever practiced.


"I think some of the men put too much emphasis on the women instead of looking at their own selves," she says. However, Alkhateeb thinks most of the men are less vigilant than the women about Hijab, partly because they figure the women are going to take care of it.
She argues that the majority of the Muslim men who are over concerned about with the issue of Hijab because they don't trust themselves sexually, and fear their own reaction to a woman who is not covered Islamically.


For women, weak self-identity and faith could explain the harshness shown towards non-Hijabi Muslimas. "It is so difficult to maintain the practice of covering, emotionally, psychologically on the job and in everyday life, you get so much negativity from other people that the reaction of most of the practicing women and activists is to develop a cocoon, a protective cocoon, and part of that protective cocoon is in continually, verbally and in other ways rejecting what is unlike yourself," explains Alkhateeb.


"And that is to shore up your own self-identity. I think that part of the reason they are so negative is because this is part of shoring up their own self-identity and because there is a hidden fear that if they let down their guard that they'll stop covering. And if they allow any space in their mind to alternative ways of thinking that their thinking will fall apart. And that means that the underlying precepts and concepts are not strong."


WHERE DOES HIJAB FIT ON THE ISLAMIC LADDER?
"While it is correct to say that Hijab is correct in the teaching of Islam we tend to forget that there are many other basic issues, why the over obsession?" asks Jamal Badawi, a member of the North American Fiqh Council.


Part of the reason some Muslims treat non-Hijabis so harshly is because of their lack of understanding about where the obligation of Hijab ranks on the Islamic ladder.
A more correct approach would be gradual and would mean implementing more important aspects of Islam, like Iman (faith), and praying five times a day before moving on to requirements like Hijab.


"We fail to see any Ayah (verse of the Quran) pertaining to Hijab in the entire Makkan revelation that was given to the Prophet, that's almost 13 years. The injunctions about more detailed aspects relating to the righteous Muslim community were revealed during the Medinan period. Some in the middle, and later part of that period," explains Badawi, "This is a revealing lesson for us because it shows that Allah knew in advance what injunctions He wanted to reveal," he adds. "Yet He delayed the revelation of those matters until many, many years of preparation on the level of Iman, submission to Allah, love of Allah and the sincere desire to voluntarily obey Allah and His Messenger. Once that base was established it wasn't difficult at all for the believing women to willingly abide by the injunctions of Allah. "


Badawi says this is similar to how the Islamic commandment forbidding intoxicants was introduced. "The same process of preparation took place to the point that when the final prohibition of intoxicants was revealed it wasn't difficult for men to abide by that willingly and immediately." He explains this was especially difficult for Muslim men, who were the ones reported more likely to consume alcohol than women at that time.
"Some well-intentioned Muslims seem to miss these lessons from the gradual revelation and become too legalistic to the point of doing more harm than benefit, notwithstanding their good intentions," adds Badawi.


WRONGLY USING THE "BASEBALL BAT" APPROACH TO THE HIJAB
"Muslims gain a little bit of knowledge and they want to run around with a baseball bat and beat people over the head with religion. That's exactly what [has] made many young people leave the mosque," says Alkhateeb. Using the right method to tell Muslim women about Hijab is crucial, just as it is in advising Muslims to implement any other requirement of the faith. "In the Prophet's whole life he led by encouragement not pressure," she says. "The way he behaved is the opposite of how most Muslims who are practicing Muslims behave towards each other in terms of giving advice. His way was not carrying around a religious baseball bat."
The thinker and writer, who has also been an activist for the last 35 years points out the "baseball bat" methodology is in full swing when many Muslims encounter non-Hijabis.
"Instead of inviting her and embracing her, they're immediately trying to think about what they can criticize her about," says Alkhateeb.

The Prophet also did not use"vigilantes" to impose a religious requirement like Hijab.
"When we deal with the Sunnah, we find that he never appointed vigilantes to go around to reinforce something that believing Muslim women were encouraged to do, or use any harsh words or actions to arrive at that desired situation or desired setting," says Badawi. "The approach that he followed which we should follow as our example was not to focus on issues like Hijab before Iman and psychological and spiritual preparation was in place." Badawi stresses inviting to Hijab and other Islamic requirements should be done in a way "that would motivate people to respect the moral values of society rather than simply forcing them to do so. In fact that goes back to the definition of Islam which is willing trusting and loving submission to Allah and obedience to His Messenger."


As an example, he cited an incident from the lifetime of the Prophet when a Bedouin man urinated in the mosque. When other Muslims saw this, they became very angry and wanted to rebuke him harshly. The Prophet on the other hand, stopped them and told the man gently what he was doing was incorrect. "That story is a classic example of the contrast between the attitudes of some well-intentioned Muslims who want to correct the wrong immediately and by any means and the approach of the Prophet of kindness, gentleness, persuasion and wisdom," he explains.


TEMPORARILY TOLERATING THE WRONG: A RULE OF USUL AL-FIQH
"The other aspect which is frequently missed is another rule of ordaining the good and forbidding the evil which was addressed by many scholars especially by the famous Shaykh ul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah," says Badawi. "The rule basically is that if in a given situation, attempting or trying to forbid the wrong may result in greater harm than benefit, then it is better to tolerate the wrong on a temporary basis."


"I think the classic example that Ibn Taymiyyah is referred to is when the Tatars invaded Muslim lands," explains Badawi. "He was told that some of these soldiers were drinking and that they should be stopped because this is part of forbidding the wrong yet, he advised that they should be left alone. His reasoning was that if those soldiers become sober, they might go on killing more people which is a greater harm than drinking".


"This is not a new rule," he emphasizes. "It is a basic rule in Usul al-Fiqh, the roots of Islamic law, that if some harm is inevitable then it is better to tolerate the lesser harm in order to prevent great harm." Badawi demonstrates how this rule could apply to a situation where a Muslim sister who does not wear Hijab attends Jumu'a prayer. "For example, if that sister is approached in a harsh way she may not come again which could hurt her and hurt the community at large. But if she's welcomed first and there's demonstration of brotherhood and friendship, then in a gentle and wise way that is suitable for her, she can be encouraged, then of course it would be a far better result than the confrontational, harsh approach."


INVOLVING NON-HIJABI SISTERS IN ACTIVITIES
"It's only by mixing in the right company that someone who is contemplating Hijab will have the strength and courage to make the final act," says Bullock. This means women offering friendship, as well as involving the sisters in Islamic activities through organizations like Muslim Students' Associations. Bullock notes that if a Muslim woman wants to do something for Islam she should be applauded "because she could be out there doing something else."
"Muslim organizations have a duty to say what is right and to invite in the best of manner women to cover and to support them when they do so but that doesn't mean individuals should be judgmental when women are not covering," she adds.


INVOLVEMENT, BUT NOT LEADERSHIP
However, Ali and Badawi draw the line of involvement of non-Hijabi Muslim women in Muslim organizations at the leadership level. They both say that any Islamically-oriented organization will select a person to be their leader who reflects their goals and aspirations. That means a Muslim woman who does not wear Hijab would not be selected because she is not fully following the precepts of Islam. Similarly, a Muslim man who is not fulfilling Islamic obligations like prayer, chaste behavior, etc. would also not be selected for a leadership position in such a milieu.
Badawi says this is not exclusion. Rather, it is the natural outcome in any milieu which aims to be Islamically-oriented. Its leadership will represent the precepts of Islam as much as possible.
"I'm against the term exclusion because if we apply the Islamic Shura (consultative) method then the leadership would emanate from the people, will be chosen by the people. And if the community or Islamic organization in a given setting are truly Islamically oriented, one would expect that the person chosen to be the spokesperson and symbol of that organization should reflect their conviction and values in the best possible way."


A POSITIVE APPROACH
Badawi gives an example of how he, "with my weaknesses" approached an aggressive non-Hijabi sister and the result. Many years back, during a visit to Australia, one sister, during one of his lectures, a non-Hijabi Muslim woman asked questions about Hijab, in a disapproving manner. He talked to her kindly and give information without harshness. Two years later, he returned to Australia, and a sister in full Hijab approached him, asking if he recognized her. He did not.
"I am the one who was arguing with you about Hijab two years ago," she told him. "But it is the approach and information that you gave me that helped me to study more, to educate myself and to make up my own decision and I am happy with what I decided."

Leaving a legacy - Muahmmad AlShareef

Self Assessment of your prayer

By Ibn Il-Qayyim (d.751H) who said,

"And mankind, with regard to their performance of prayer are in five levels:

The First: The level of the one who is negligent and wrongs his soul. He is the one who falls short in performing ablution properly, performing the prayer upon its time and within its specified limits, and in fulfilling its essential pillars.

The Second: The one who guards his prayers upon their proper times and within their specified limits, fulfils their essential pillars and performs his ablution with care. However, his striving (in achieving the above) is wasted due to whisperings in his prayer so he is taken away by thoughts and ideas.

The Third: The one who guards his prayers within the specified limits, fulfils their essential pillars and strives with himself to repel the whisperings, thoughts and ideas. He is busy struggling against his enemy (shaytaan) so that he does not steal from the prayer. On account of this he is engaged in (both) prayer and jihaad.

The Fourth: The one who stands for the prayer, completes and perfects its due rights, its essential pillars, performs it within its specified limits and his heart becomes engrossed in safeguarding its rights and specified limits, so that nothing is wasted from it. His whole concern is directed towards its establishment, its completion and perfection, as it should be. His heart is immersed in the prayer and in enslavement to his Lord, the Exalted.

The Fifth: The one who stands for the prayer like the one mentioned above. However, on top of this, he has taken and placed his heart in front of his Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, looking towards Him with his heart with anticipation, (his heart) filled with His love and His might, as if he sees and witnesses Allaah. The whisperings, thoughts and ideas have vanished and the coverings which are between him and his Lord are raised. What is between this person and others with respect to the prayer, is superior and greater than what is between the heavens and the earth. This person is busy with his Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, delighted with Him.

The first type will be punished,

the second type will be held to account,

the third will have his sins and shortcomings expiated,

the fourth will be rewarded,

and the fifth will be close to his Lord, because he will receive the portion of one who makes his prayer the delight and pleasure of his eye.

Whoever makes the prayer the delight and pleasure of his eye, will have the nearness to his Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, made the delight and pleasure of his eye in the hereafter. He will also be made a pleasure to the eye in this world since whoever makes Allaah the pleasure of his eye in this world, every other eye will become delighted and pleased with him."

Source: Al-Waabilus- Sayyib pp.23-24.
From: The Path to Guidance, trans. by Amjad Rafiq

Prophet Muhammad's Last Sermon

The last sermon of the Prophet (Sallalahu alaihi wa salam) is known as 'Khutbatul Wada'. It is mentioned in almost all books of Hadith. The following Ahadith in Sahih Al-Bukhari refer to the sermon and quote part of it, Hadith 1623, 1626, 6361. Sahih of Imam Muslim also refers to this sermon in Hadith number 98. Imam al-Tirmidhi has mentioned this sermon in Hadith nos. 1628, 2046, 2085. Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal has given us the longest and perhaps the most complete version of this sermon in his Musnad, Hadith no. 19774.

This Khutbah of the Prophet (Sallalahu alaihi wa salam) contained much guidance and instructions on many issues. The Prophet (Sallalahu alaihi wa salam) gave this sermon in front of a large gathering of people during Hajj. It is a great khutbah and we should all pay attention to its message and guidance. (excerpt from soundvision.com)

The following are the basic points mentioned in this khutbah:

This sermon was delivered on the Ninth Day of Dhul Hijjah 10 A.H. in the 'Uranah valley of Mount Arafat' (in Mecca).

After praising, and thanking Allah (Subhana wa ta'ala) he said:

"O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and TAKE THESE WORDS TO THOSE WHO COULD NOT BE PRESENT HERE TODAY.

O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your LORD, and that HE will indeed reckon your deeds. ALLAH has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity. Allah has Judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn 'Abd'al Muttalib (Prophet's uncle) shall henceforth be waived...

Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah's trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.

O People, listen to me in earnest, worship ALLAH, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.

All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.

Remember, one day you will appear before ALLAH and answer your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

O People, NO PROPHET OR APOSTLE WILL COME AFTER ME AND NO NEW FAITH WILL BE BORN. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the QURAN and my example, the SUNNAH and if you follow these you will never go astray.

All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O ALLAH, that I have conveyed your message to your people".

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This khutbah is just as relevant now as it was then. Imagine if we all paid heed to this message. Let us pass it on, and may we all benefit from it, Ameen!

We need to mind our own business!

Bismillah,

O you who believe! Avoid much suspicions, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is the One Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful. (Quran, Surah Al-Hujurat 49:12)

Suspicion is a natural human instinct but in this verse Allah (Subhana wa ta'ala) tells us to avoid it so we do not fall into other destructive areas. Suspicion and distrust can destroy brotherhood and sisterhood and hence we need to eliminate it.

Prophet Muhammad (Sallalahu alaihi wa salam) warned us of the dangers of suspicion by saying "Beware of suspicion, for verily it is the most deceptive form of speech" Reported by Aby Hurayrah and collected by Bukhari, Muslim and Abu Dawood

Suspicion can lead to backbiting, gossiping and slander when it is spoken about. Even if you have suspicious thoughts you should try your best not to act on it or speak about it since this can lead to those grave sins, so the best thing is to avoid suspicion all together.

The Prophet Sallalahu alaihi wa salam said "Allah overlooks the evil thoughts of the Muslim nation as long as they do not speak about it or act on it" Reported by Abu Hurayrah and collected by Bukhari and Muslim

Caliph Umar radiallahu anhu is reported to have said "If your Muslim brother makes an ambiguous statement to you, you should only think the best and you will find a good explanation for it" Ibn Katheer and Imam Malik

Suspicion and curiosity about others can lead to spying. The invasion of privacy is opposed by Islam, and the Prophet (Sallalahu alaihi wa salam) advised us to stay out of other peoples business to the point where it is one of the qualities that complete a Muslim's Islam. He said "Among the things which complete a man's Islam is his avoiding things which do not concern him" Tirmidhi
and "Blessed is he who is so busy with his own faults that he becomes unaware of the faults of others" Reported by Anas, collected by al-Bazzar

Eavesdropping is haram, and severe punishments have been described.
The Prophet (Sallalahu alaihi wa salam) said "One who eavesdrops on the conversation of others and hears what they would not like him to hear will have molten brass poured in his ears on the Day of Judgement" Collected by Tabarani and authenticated by al-Albani

On another occasion he (Sallalahu alaihi wa salam) is reported to have said "The habitual eavesdropper will not enter Paradise." Reported by Hudhayfah, colected by Bukhari, Muslim and others.

Even if you suspect someone is doing something wrong in their home, it is not allowed to spy on them. Islamic law rejects any evidence obtained by spying and snooping. Ibn Mas'ood said "We have been forbidden from spying, but if any evidence appears in the open we will use it" Collected by Abu Dawood

Nowadays suspicion and backbiting have become so common that we don't realize that we are backbiting when we talk about others. We all need to stop it, there is absolutely no good in it.

The Prophet (Sallalahu alaihi wa salam) was asked "O Messenger of Allah, what exactly is Gheebah (backbiting)?" He replied, "It is mentioning something about your brother which he dislikes." The man then asked, "What if what I said were true?" The Prophet answered, "If what you said were true, you have backbitten and if it was not, you have slandered." Reported by Abu Hurayrah in Bukhari and Muslim

The Prophet (Sallalahu alaihi wa salam) chastised even his family "Once a woman visited Aishah (radiallahu anha) and when the woman got up to leave, Aisha made a sign with her hand indicating to the Prophet Aishah (Sallalahu alaihi wa salam) that the woman was short of stature. The Prophet immediately chastised her, saying, 'You have backbitten!'" Reported by Hasan ibn al-Makhariq, collected by Ibn Jareer.

Backbiting is haram except in the protection of a muslim's welfare such as evidence in a court case, and when advice is sought for business dealings or marriage. For example, Fatima bint Qays came to the Prophet (Sallalahu alaihi wa salam) seeking marital advice after both Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan and Abu Jahm had proposed to her, the Prophet (Sallalahu alaihi wa salam) said "Mu'awiyah is stingy and tight fisted and Abu Jahm beats his women, so marry Usamah instead" Reported by Fatima bint Qays, collected by Muslim, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi and others.

If someone has cheated you in business and another muslim is about to do business with the person, you should warn them by telling them your experience, but keep it to the point, don't embellish and add other irrelevant things.

We should not seek to show up the faults of others, there are great rewards for covering each others faults. The Prophet (Sallalahu alaihi wa salam) said "In this life and the next Allah will cover the faults of one who covers a Muslim's faults" Reported by Abu Hurayrah and collected by Tirmidhi

He (Sallalahu alaihi wa salam) also said "On the Day of Ressurection, Allah will deflect fire from the face of one who defends his Muslim brother's honour in the latter's absense." Reported by Abu al-Darda , collected by Tirmidhi

Suspicion and slander can break apart friendships, families and destroy communities and business relationships. They and their related behaviours are very dangerous.

The Prophet (Sallalahu alaihi wa salam) said "Do not envy each other, harbour ill-will towards each other or make false bids against each other (during sales in order to increase the prices of goods), nor boycott each other, or spy on each other; but instead, be true servants of Allah and brothers. A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim, he does not harm him, humiliate him or scorn him." He (Sallalahu alaihi wa salam) then pointed to his chest and said "Fear of Allah dwells here, fear of Allah dwells here. It is very evil that a Muslim look down upon a brother Muslim. Everything of a Muslim is forbidden to another Muslim; his blood is sacred, so are his honour and his property" Reported by Abu Hurayrah, collected by Muslim

We should not only avoid suspicion and backbiting, we should try to prevent others from doing so. The Prophet (Sallalahu alaihi wa salam) said "Whoever perceives an evil should prevent it with his hand, but if he is unable let him do so with his tongue and if he remains unable let him hate it in his heart for that is the lowest form of Eeman" Reported by Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri, collected by Muslim and Abu Dawood

Let us all make an effort to avoid being suspicious of each other and to avoid backbiting, and to stop others from backbiting in our presence. I remind myself before anyone else.

Polygny thoughts - Did I mess it up?

A brother who was interested in marrying me over a year ago (it didnt happen), contacted me online today out of the blue. He asked how I was and what I was up to. I had a feeling he was married by now because I saw a pic on facebook, but anyway I didnt ask just yet. So we had a nice conversation, he has made Hijrah now and he asked if I was married. I'm not, so i told him so, and asked if he was. it turns out that he has been married now for a year and has a son, MashaAllah. But....he says he is thinking of having another wife, and wondered what I thought about that (implying me as being the new co-wife).

He says he doesnt know if his wife will accept it.

Now I know nothing is wrong with Polygny, but I tried to put myself in the other sister's shoes, as a new wife, only one year married, new baby, living in a new foreign country.....would I be excited about my husband taking another wife at this time? more than likely, NO, I would not be too thrilled. His reason is that he wants a big family (6 children) and she only wants to have three children. WHOA...I told him to be patient, maybe she would have more than three, and that I thought it was too soon for him to be thinking about another wife right now, and that she might not be too happy with the idea at this time. He thanked me for my advice and that was it.

Did I shoot myself in the foot, or did I do the right thing? I think he is a good Muslim MashaAllah, and Allah Subhana wa ta'ala knows best, so did I sabotage myself? Aaargh, I feel so confused, and today was going so well :-(