Can You Skip Jumuah due to Psychological Problems?

 

Let us also remind you of the Hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in which he stated that Allah Almighty rewards every Muslim for anything harms him even a thorn prick.

So, never feel sad for what had happened to you. Rather, you should be patient and satisfied imploring Allah Almighty to abundantly reward you for it.

I ask Allah Almighty to protect you, grant you speedy recovery, and reward you highly. Allah Almighty has made this tribulation as a gift for you by opening doors of worship you wouldn’t have experienced otherwise. So, praise be to Allah Who makes it easy for His servants after any hardship.

I want to emphasize to you that Friday prayer absence cannot be excused by such types of excuses, as was unanimously agreed upon among scholars of Islam.

Other congregational prayers attendance is less strict because attending congregational prayer in times other than Friday is a controversy among scholars whether it is required or just encouraged.

But, if you can observe all congregational prayers, that should be your first priority. Observing Friday prayer should be the absolute minimum though as whoever misses 3 Fridays out of negligence, Allah will conceal his heart.

Almighty Allah knows best.

- aboutislam.net

About Dr. Salah Al-Sawy

President of the Shari`ah Academy and the Secretary General for the Assembly of Muslim Jurists in America

Patience Is a Blessing From Allah

 When you recognize Allah’s presence, you will be able to practice patience. Patience comes from Allah and He reminds you of Himself at the right moment. - aboutislam.net

6 Patterns of Narratives in the Quran

 

The Quran contains many narratives (qisas, singular qissah), referred to in the Quran itself:

{We do relate unto thee the most beautiful of stories} (Yusuf 12:3)

These narratives, which illustrate and underline important aspects of the Quranic message, fulfill their functions in a variety of ways. The following are some of the more common patterns:

1. Explaining the general message of Islam

2. Giving general guidance and a reminder

3. Strengthening the conviction of the Prophet and the believers

4. Reminding of the earlier prophets and their struggles

5. Indicating the continuity and truth of Muhammad’s message

6. Providing arguments against some opponents of Islam, such as Jews and Christians

Quran Stories:

• Stories of the Prophets: Exemplary Patience of Prophet Ayub (PBUH)
• These Prophets Were Separated from Families Too… What to Learn from Them?
• Learn Ethics of Teamwork from Prophets Musa and Harun (Peace Be upon Them)

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As far as the contents of these narratives are concerned, one may, broadly speaking, distinguish between the following three kinds:

1. Stories of the prophets of Allah, their peoples, their message, their call, their persecution, etc., such as the narratives about Nuh (Ash-Shu`ra’ 26, Nuh 71), Musa (Al-Qasas 28), `Isa (Maryam 19) and many others

2. Other Quranic narratives about past people or events, such as the narratives about the Companions of the cave, or about Dhul Qarnain (Al-Kahf 18)

3. References to events that took place during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad, such as the Battle of Badr (Aal `Imran 3:13), the Battle of Uhud (Aal `Imran 3:121-128), the Battle of Al-Ahzab (33: 9-27), the Night Journey (Al-Israa’ 17:1)

- aboutislam.net

About Ahmad Von Denffer

Ahmad Von Denffer was born in Germany in 1949. He is working for the Islamic Center, Munich, Germany. He has various publications in different languages.

Don’t Worry, Allah Has Your Back

 

Do you struggle with pains that life throws at you? Your fear and agony, your illness, your anxiety that eats at you, your business that you’ve lost… Don’t worry.

You should be grateful for your pains, especially pains that you don’t complain about and don’t even vent, pains that only Allah knows about.

Why?

Because something amazing happens!

Allah is saving for you a great place in Paradise; He wants to elevate your status to a higher level you deserve.

This is how believers handle their challenges in life. Their patience when calamities strike, and their trust in Allah’s plan and promise relieve their hearts and reduce the pains of this life.

A Life of Test

People who are tried and tested the most are the Prophets and the messengers, then people who are closer to them in faith.

A person will be tried and tested according to that level. If their faith is strong, then their trials will be strong; but if their faith is weak, their trials will be at the same level of intensity.

This is the story of this life. Allah never promised us that earth here to be Paradise; He never promised us to make us enjoy this life to the fullest. Allah says:

[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed. (Quran 67:2)

Allah promised that this life is life of test and He promised that He is not going to commit even an atom weight of injustice.

So why would we go through trials and hardships, when we don’t get what wish? When our plans are ruined? Why do we feel as if Allah is targeting us, or as if He abandoned us or doesn’t care about us, or doesn’t have mercy upon us?

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

Allah gives this dunya to the one that He loves and the one that He doesn’t love. But He only gives the akhirah to those He loves.

If you’ve been going through hardship, if you’ve been going through a financial loss, emotional or physical struggle… Or any type of pain and suffering, and it’s been going on for a long time. You are not the only one. This is how life is meant to be. Not because Allah loves humans to suffer, but because:

Indeed with every hardship there is ease; with every hardship, there is ease. (Quran 94:5-6)

How Do We Deal With All These Hardships and Calamities?

Some people have been suffering for ten years, some people for twenty or fifty years. They’ve been calling upon Allah to remove some kind of hardship and Allah hasn’t removed it yet! Not because Allah doesn’t care, but maybe Allah wants to elevate them.

Prophet Muhammad said that:

Allah has a high place for one of you in Paradise, and the person doesn’t do enough to get it, but Allah sends hardships so that he can get it.

When this person responds with patience, Allah elevates him to that level.

Anywhere you go, any side you sleep on, any ceiling you’re under, you are well taken care of. There are no mistakes in your life; there is nothing random that even happened to you in your life. Everything was written before the creation of the heavens and the earth.

This is a source of relief because the one who wrote that down is the Most Merciful, the Most Wise, and the Most Just.

Quran.

- aboutislam.net

Husband Doesn’t Allow Me to Wear Hijab

 

May Allah (swt) continue to guide you on the straight path and bring you all the knowledge and strength to practice the deen as it has been prescribed to us.

Wearing the hijab publicly has been an issue discussed a lot, especially in recent time, and will inevitably raise concern for us all as Muslims due to the attacks that have occurred on people as a result.

Where a Muslim man’s identity as a Muslim is not so obvious, wearing hijab is obviously a lot more covert and openly identifies us a Muslim.

The hijab is an obligation on us as women and, therefore, is a must that we wear it, even in situations where we may fear persecution.

It can certainly feel very daunting when we hear all the negative stories in the media about it; however, there a number of things we must always keep in mind to remain strong in our desire to wear it.

Firstly, Allah (swt) said we should wear it and there is a very good reason for this. It serves as a protection to us.

Remember that we wear it to obey the command of Allah (swt) and that we are not doing it for anyone but Him (swt).

Therefore, the judgements of others are irrelevant. Ultimately, Allah (swt) is the One who will be judging our life on this earth and not anyone else.

Therefore, it is more important for us to strive to please Him (swt) even if it meant that everyone else on the planet was displeased.

This can be easier said than done when your spouse does not agree that you fulfill this obligation of wearing the hijab and you fear the consequences of disobeying him.

However, whilst in most cases, you should respect what your husband says, when a husband tells the wife to do something that is haram or outside of the fold of Islam, then they cannot obey such a command. 

Understandably, he is worried for your safety and this is a sign of his love for you, so you might reassure him that it is an obligation on you to wear it and that your fear of Allah (swt) is worth more than the fear of persecution from others.

In sha’ Allah, if he loves you for the sake of Allah (swt) and wants what is best for you in the Hereafter, then he will begin to support you with this.

Perhaps at the start, he could accompany you out to see for himself the kind of reaction that you get from others around you.

In sha’ Allah, he will come to realize that even though people may stare, the reaction probably won’t be half as bad as he expects.

Whilst we hear many stories of people being persecuted for wearing it, there are just as many (often unreported) stories of people actually desiring to ask questions about Islam and find out more.

In many cases, they even revert to Islam as a result. We can use it as an indirect form of making dawah.

People see the hijab and automatically know we are Muslims and will make judgements about Islam based on our behavior.

Therefore, having this constant reminder on our head will always encourage us to act the best of ways to show the beauty of Islam and that Muslims are not all as bad as is portrayed in the media.

Use it as a chance to challenge the stereotypes that exist for Muslims right now.

Being in the minority, wearing the hijab provides the perfect opportunity to do this.

So, yes, maybe as a Muslim you don’t “fit in” as much as you would in a country where the majority are Muslim, but you can use this to your advantage and do your best to mix in as much as everyone else, and let people know that Muslims are good people.

May Allah (swt) make it easy for you to proceed with your decision to wear the hijab and reward you for doing so.

May He (swt) soften your husband’s heart to accept you in doing so, and may He (swt) open the hearts of others’ hearts to Islam in accepting you into the community with no problems.

- aboutislam.net

About Hannah Morris

Hannah Morris is a mum of 4 and she currently works as Counsellor and Instructor of BSc. Psychology at the Islamic Online University (IOU). She obtained her MA degree in Psychology and has over 10 years of experience working in health and social care settings in the UK, USA, and Ireland. Check out her personal Facebook page, ActiveMindCare, that promotes psychological well-being in the Ummah. (www.facebook.com/activemindcare)

How Do You Get Answer to Your Question from God?

 

The Best Way to Ask About the Unseen

First of all, when you have a personal question about the unseen- like we all do – the best thing surely is to consult The Knower of the unseen who has full knowledge of the past, present and future of everything, Allah Almighty.

The Prophet taught us the consultation prayer (salatul istikhara).

The dua in it says:

(O Allah, I consult You through Your Knowledge, and I seek strength through Your Power, and ask of Your Great Bounty; for You are Capable whereas I am not and You know and I do not, and You are the Knower of hidden things.

O Allah, if You know that this matter (and name it) is good for me in respect of my Deen, my livelihood and the consequences of my affairs, (or he said), the sooner or the later of my affairs then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me.

But if You know this matter (and name it) to be bad for my Deen, my livelihood or the consequences of my affairs, (or he said) the sooner or the later of my affairs then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and grant me power to do good whatever it may be, and cause me to be contented with it).

And let the supplicant specify the object.” [Al-Bukhari]

This is such a beautiful and powerful prayer and supplication to make.

Do You Know For Sure?

You asked Allah for something. But the question is: Do you know for sure that this thing will be good for you in the future?

We can never be sure. Sometimes what we wish for now, we regret later.

So, through this prayer, you consult Allah given His Supreme Knowledge and you trust Him.

You ask Him that if what you wish for is good for you in the future in your religion, livelihood and afterlife, that He facilitates it for you.

But if it is harmful for you in your religion, livelihood or afterlife that he would keep it away from you and keep you away from it and give you something better and make you pleased with it.

About Allah and Answering Our Wishes and Dua

Allah hears all our prayers and responds to them in the way that is best for us.

There are 3 ways in which Allah answers one’s prayer:

1- He responds to the dua directly or soon enough (and we all have duas that were responded to quite soon).

2- He delays the response to when the time is best for us to have it. You’ll find throughout the Quran that Allah responded to even impossible duas of Prophets after years, but the time of the answer was the best for them.

3- He knows that this thing isn’t good for us, so He – on account of our dua-, grants us something much bigger, better and eternal in the Hereafter.

Is My Wish Really Good For Me?

We need to make sure that what we ask for is not actually unlawful, sinful or harmful.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) says:

“The supplication of a slave continues to be granted as long as he does not supplicate for a sinful thing or for something that would cut off the ties of kinship and he does not grow impatient.

” It was said: “O Messenger of Allah! What does growing impatient mean?”

He (peace be upon him) said, “It is one’s saying: ‘I supplicated again and again but I do not think that my prayer will be answered.’ Then he becomes frustrated (in such circumstances) and gives up supplication altogether.” [Sahih Muslim]

We also have to ask ourselves: are we here on earth to get all our wishes answered, or are we here for a greater purpose that determines our eternal place in the Hereafter?

This world is but a test for us, and the Hereafter is the place where we will get all our wishes immediately and eternally.

So we have to continue to prove our faith here and succeed in our test, this is our number one goal.

“[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed — and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving –“[Quran 67: 2]

This brings us to another essential point.

The Quran and Answering One’s Questions

Allah Almighty has already provided answers to our most essential questions in the Quran.

He has already spoken to us, we don’t need another prophet or messenger as you were thinking.

“This [Quran] is a clear statement to [all] the people and a guidance and instruction for those conscious of Allah.” (Quran 3: 138)

If we are closely engaged in studying the Quran and the Seerah, we will be in a good position to find answers, relief and resolutions to most, if not all, our quests.

Additionally, Allah is closely guiding all those who seek Him. Maybe you ask Allah, and He inspires you to send a question here that gives you the response you need.

Maybe you find several posts online about your issue that speak directly to you, maybe you meet a knowledgeable/trustworthy person who shares with you something that is exactly the answer to your question, maybe you sit peacefully and reflect and then things become clearer for you…

“And how many a sign within the heavens and earth do they pass over while they, therefrom, are turning away.” (Quran 12: 105)

So pay attention to the signs. Allah knows your surroundings and knows how to reach you. If you ask Him, He will give you answers that you can easily find.

The Test of Faith and Trust in Allah

Most importantly, the issue is not about waiting to know whether Allah agrees or not.

Allah will not prevent something good from His slaves unnecessarily; Allah is The Most caring for His slaves.

The issue is: when you consult Allah, then this means you trust Him and you ask Him to do what He thinks is best for you, and not what you think is best.

If you simply ask Allah to grant you your wishes, it is as if you’re saying, “O Allah, I know everything and I know what’s right for me, I’m not consulting you; I’m demanding you to do what I want”—of course this isn’t right.

Prayer and consultation is about humility, faith and trust in Allah that He knows better than us and being at peace with this fact, and with His Wisdom and direction He leads us to.

- aboutislam.net

About Dina Mohamed Basiony

Dina Mohamed Basiony is a writer based in Cairo, Egypt. She specializes in Islam and spirituality. Dina holds an MA and BA in Journalism and Mass Communication from the American University in Cairo.

I Feel Overwhelmed With Missed Prayers Daily

 

The scholars of Islam insist that a Muslim must not deliberately delay the performance of the five mandatory prayers beyond their specified time.

But if we forget to do them owing to reasons beyond our control or have fallen asleep, there is no blame. But then we should perform them as soon as we remember or wake up.

Islam permits no excuse for the deliberate postponement of prayer owing to work or business or study or any other worldly pursuit.

True Believers

Indeed one of the characteristics of genuine believers is that they do not permit any worldly affairs to take precedence over the observance of regular prayer within the specified time.

Allah in His Noble Quran describes the believers thus:

People whom neither [worldly] commerce nor striving after gain can divert from the remembrance of God, and from con­stancy in prayer, and from charity: [people] who are filled with fear [at the thought] of the Day On which all hearts and eyes will be convulsed [and who only hope] that God may reward them in accordance with the best that they ever did, and give them, out of His bounty, more [than they deserve]: for, God grants sustenance unto whom He wills, beyond all reckon­ing. (Quran 24:37, 38)

People who are engaged in trade or business are generally unwilling to pause their activities for a while for anything; they think they will be losers if they do so. They forget that Allah is the Disposer of all affairs, and without His blessing no human activity can bear fruit.

So the best we can do is to plan our activities in such a way that we set apart short intervals in the midst of our activities for prayer, which need not take more than a few minutes.

Easier Prayers for The Sick

Allah Almighty also says of later generations of people who ignored their prayers:

Yet they were succeeded by generations [of people] who lost all [thought of] prayer and followed [but] their own lusts; and these will, in time, meet with utter disillusion… (Quran 19:59)

On the basis of the Quran and the Sunnah, our jurists have clearly specified the time for each Salah, for which there is a beginning time and no one is expected to perform it before that time. And for each prayer there is an ending time too, after which no one can do it with the certainty of acceptance by Allah.

We should not postpone the mandatory five times’ Salah, not even during the times of battle, fear, or illness.

Even a person suffering from an extreme illness is not exempted from prayer. Such a person is allowed to pray sitting if difficult to do it standing; and if he or she can’t do it sitting, they can do it lying on bed.

And if a patient can’t make wudhu (ablution), they can do tayammum (a form of ablution without using water) before the prayer.  All these underscore the fact that Salah cannot be postponed for the sake of some worldly pursuit.

The foregoing means that study, research or project work is NOT a valid excuse for the postponement of prayer.

Breaks in Work Are Good, Not Bad

Now let us come specifically to your problem, namely your fear that if you stop in the middle of your work for prayer, you will lose your focus. You feel, effectively, that you can’t engage in any meaningful work or project if you take an interval or recess for prayer.

In fact, several studies have been conducted about the advantages or disadvantages of taking a break from work; and these show that taking an interval actually enhances creativity.

A recess from any difficult work or project allows the person to take up the work with a fresh mind and approach after the break which allows them to view the problems in a new light. This reinvigorates their creative potential to produce much better results than they could otherwise achieve.

Your feeling that taking a recess is detrimental to your creative efforts is a misunderstanding about how your brain works.

Allah Knows Best What Is Good

Allah is Wise and He knows about the strengths and weaknesses of humans; and the five times’ mandatory prayers have indeed more benefits than we can easily see or assess at face value.

We need Allah’s help and guidance in matters where we encounter difficulties or where we are utterly helpless. The best way to get His help and guidance is to supplicate to Him, and one of the best times for supplication is just after our mandatory prayers.

And if by any chance you miss a prayer, you need to do it before performing the next one. Also, you need to ask the forgiveness of Allah Almighty to forgive you for your lapse in the doing of the mandatory prayer.

Finally, it all depends on your faith in Allah Almighty and your commitment to living in submission to His will. And Allah knows best. 

And Allah knows best.

- aboutislam.net

About Professor Shahul Hameed

Professor Shahul Hameed is an Islamic consultant. He also held the position of the President of the Kerala Islamic Mission, Calicut, India. He is the author of three books on Islam published in the Malayalam language. His books are on comparative religion, the status of women, and science and human values.